KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian sports federations risk serious consequences if they fail to comply with international governing bodies, and such governance failures could ultimately hurt athletes and the country’s standing on the world stage, former Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman said.
She was among figures from the Malaysian sports community, including veterans, coaches, athletes and officials who launched the Reform in Sport & Excellence (RISE) movement today to call for greater accountability and governance reforms in the country’s sports leadership.
To remedy weaknesses in Malaysian sports federations, Zaiton and other former athletes said or ex-athletes should be given key roles, and national sports policies must put athletes first.
Otherwise, sports associations will fall short of international standards because administrators do not have the “lived experience” that athletes do.
“National bodies will fail to align with international rules, principles and ethical standards.
“When this happens, the consequences are not administrative. They directly affect athletes,” Zaiton said at the launch of RISE at the Royal Selangor Club in Bukit Kiara today.
RISE is athlete-led, and was formed by former national athletes, coaches and officials in response to growing concerns over governance, accountability and leadership standards across Malaysian sport.
Zaiton added that successful sports federations in other country rely heavily on former athletes in key roles.
“If you go to any competition in the world, the team manager is an ex-athlete, the coach is an ex-athlete,” she said, citing examples from countries such as Thailand and Nepal.
Another speaker at the RISE launch was veteran Malaysian athletics legend Datuk Karu Selvaratnam, who said the current “system” cared more about administrators rather than the athletes.
In the present sporting landscape, he said, administrative structures appear increasingly detached from the athletes they are meant to serve.
“Today I see something different. I get the feeling that the system exists for the administrators and not for the athletes,” Karu said.
President of the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletics Association (FTKLAA) Datuk Seri (Dr) V Pulainthiran meanwhile, warned that poor governance by sports administrators could force athletes into situations beyond their control, especially when international and domestic regulations conflict.
He said rules by world sports federations cannot be ignored.
“You can’t decide ‘we just play Sukma and don’t go to SEA Games’; this is unacceptable for aspiring athletes.”
Former national hurdler Hamdi Jaffar said he had been largely silent on sports issues for nearly 30 years but decided to speak up since last year after repeated attempts to advocate for change through official channels yielded no results.
He said it was “crucial for ex-athletes to be part of the system”, not necessarily because they are experts, but because of their lived experience.
“They have gone through the process. So, they understand what it takes to become a champion and what it needs in the process to be executed,” he said.
He pointed out that during the 1980s and 1990s, ex-athletes played key roles within the sports administrative system, contributing to stronger performances.
He said putting athletes first meant that their welfare, training, coaches and competitions, are all given priority.
“Any decision made at the administrative level must consider its direct impact on athletes…they are the one bearing the consequences of any decision,” he said.
Hamdi said RISE was not going to be yet another athletes’ association, but an independent movement designed to serve as an external watchdog and catalyst for reform. He said RISE was inspired by sporting legends including Karu, M. Jegathesan, and N. Sidhu, whose achievements shaped successive generations of athletes.
“RISE is not in the system. We are a voice of reason to provide check and balance,” Hamdi said.
The launch was also attended by the President of the Malaysian Olympians Association, Norseela Mohd Khalid, noted that there are many deeper issues in Malaysian athletics needing redress.
“We need capable, credible and reliable leadership, not just administratively but from experience.
“We cannot continue doing the same things and expect different results, the responsibility is shared,” Norseela said.
RISE’s manifesto states that Malaysian sport is standing at a critical point, with athletes competing with commitment and pride, “but the systems behind them are under strain.”
The movement’s core principles include athlete-first decision-making, integrity in governance, transparency, accountability, competent leadership and long-term development.
RISE will initially focus on athletics before broadening its reform efforts to other sports.
It also plans to engage stakeholders, including the Malaysia Olympians Association and the Coalition of Malaysian Hockey Renewal. – April 25, 2026