KUALA LUMPUR – The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) today called on Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to intervene in sports commissioner Suhardi Alias’ “extreme belligerence” towards the OCM.
OCM secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib said OCM’s leadership has described Suhardi’s latest statement yesterday as having gone beyond his job scope by touching on athletes’ performance that comes under the auspices of the National Sports Associations (NSAs).
Shuhardi had refused to apologise to OCM and also urged the Football Association of Malaysia and Badminton Association of Malaysia to improve their reputations as they failed to achieve targets set at the Cambodia SEA Games.
He also said that both NSAs should avoid blaming athletes and coaches for the failure.
“Suhardi’s latest statement clearly indicated that, deep down in his heart, he has the intention to take action against OCM under the Sports Development Act 1997 (Act 576).
“Not only has he refused to apologise for drawing parallels between OCM and the Israeli government, but his comments on the achievement and performance of national athletes fell outside his job scope, which is restricted to the laws pertaining to the registration, deregistration, or suspension of sports bodies registered under the act.
“Suhardi’s temerity can be seen as having declared war against OCM and our affiliates,” said Nazifuddin in a statement today.
He adds that the OCM respects Suhardi’s role as the sports commissioner and the vast powers vested in him under Act 576, but notes that a parliamentary act does not allow an individual to act unilaterally and arbitrarily against a sports organisation, let alone the OCM, which is an umbrella body for 58 national sports associations.
“If Suhardi continues to be bellicose and hostile towards OCM, we subscribe to the IOC Charter, which compels NOCs to preserve our autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious, or economic pressures,” adds Nazifuddin.
On Suhardi’s contention that OCM was also subjected to Section 8 and Section 9 of Act 576, the OCM said the matter should not arise because OCM has all along performed its role by conducting business according to its constitution as a recognised National Olympic Committee.
“We fully comprehend the content of Act 576, which OCM is glad to adhere to by working closely with all agencies under the Youth and Sports Ministry, particularly the National Sports Council, the Sports Commissioner’s Office and the National Sports Institute in managing the Malaysian contingent’s participation in all international multi-sports games as well as matters pertaining to the registration of our affiliates and NSAs,” Nazifuddin asserted.
Nazifuddin added that Suhardi’s statement illustrated his confrontational approach, which goes against Hannah’s policy of harmonious collaboration since she was appointed as the minister in November last year. – November 20, 2023