KUALA LUMPUR – Fear, trauma, and silence can weigh heavily on athletes, preventing them from performing at their peak long before results show on the field.
Experts say that ignoring athlete wellbeing not only risks mental and physical harm but also undermines sports performance across Malaysia.
Speaking to Scoop during a Sport Check podcast, Sarina Sundara Rajah, founding president of Safe Sport Malaysia and former national gymnast, emphasised the toll unsafe environments take on athletes.
“If you speak up and you’re afraid of losing your place… you get benched,” she said. “And then, for parents, if you speak up, then they’ll be labelled as troublemakers.”
Sarina was joined by founding members Freda Liu, a radio personality, and Datuk Yasmin Yusuff, a TV and radio personality, who highlighted the need to listen to athletes and embed safeguarding practices in sports culture.
“All that builds a story and gives us information,” Freda said, reflecting on the importance of understanding the broader context of abuse, beyond just the victim and perpetrator.
Safe Sport Malaysia advocates for structured education, independent reporting mechanisms, and clearer policies to prevent abuse.
Sarina pointed to international examples where athletes are protected and supported: “When athletes feel supported, they perform better. It’s a simple correlation, yet one that has often been overlooked here.”
The organisation also warns that unsafe practices extend beyond abuse. She cited weight monitoring in gymnastics as an example, recalling her own experience.
“Back then, I used to be weighed maybe about four to six times a day… each time when we gain just 100 grammes, we’d be forced to run outside until we lose that extra weight.”
Sarina contrasted this with current international practices, noting that “coaches are not allowed to weigh the gymnasts unless the weight is being taken by a medical practitioner and for medical reasons.”
Safe Sport Malaysia stresses that cultural change starts with awareness, education, and proactive measures.
“Education is the foundation of everything. It can be part of the curriculum in schools,” Sarina said. She also encouraged parents, coaches, and volunteers to seek out online safeguarding resources, such as short courses offered by the USA Sports Centre.
Freda added that keeping conversations alive in the media is essential: “Beyond breaking stories… the media should also delve into the background and speak to everyone… not just talk about the perpetrator and the victim, but the parents, the friends, the other people on their team.”
The full interview with Sarina, Freda, and Yasmin is available on the Sport Check podcast, accessible via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major PODaBOOM platforms. — August 24, 2025