Malaysian sports in 2023: learning from successes, ambiguities

KUALA LUMPUR – As we step into the new year, taking stock of the past and envisioning the future becomes crucial. 

In the arena of Malaysian sports, experts are weighing in on the triumphs and challenges of the previous year, with a particular focus on the highly anticipated Paris edition of the Olympic Games scheduled for July.

Since the leadership of Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh in the Youth and Sports Ministry, significant initiatives, such as the establishment of the Road to Gold (RTG) committee, have been put into action to catalyse positive change in the sports industry.

However, as a long-time industry observer, Mohd Sadek Mustafa saw a lack of clarity in the RTG committee’s role, particularly in tandem with the existing Podium Programme committee. 

“Because of this ambiguity, men’s hockey was included in RTG for the 2024 Olympics, despite facing challenging odds of an 85% qualification chance for Paris.

“But, three accomplished young athletes – diver Bertrand Rhodict, shooter Johnathan Wong and sailor Nur Shazrin – failed to secure spots in RTG, raising eyebrows as their combined budget is merely 30% of the men’s hockey allocation,” the sports analyst told Scoop.

The men’s hockey team was initially incorporated into the RTG in June, but they were subsequently removed from the programme due to their underwhelming performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage.

In another matter, Sadek commended the EPF contribution initiative but pointed out that its implementation lacked clear guidelines, specifically concerning the distribution of contributions between the government and athletes. 

His recommendations involve broadening tax relief to cover all forms of income, allowances and winnings for athletes representing the country, recognising the transient nature of athletes’ careers.

Weighing in on sports development towards the Olympics, former National Sports Institute CEO Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz expressed his sentiments on learning from both failures and successes.

“The key lies in continuous learning from past successes rather than solely dissecting failures.

“Do not just try to analyse when things are going wrong because there will be no lack of discussions and debates about things that have been going so well,” he said when contacted.

As a technical adviser of the RTG committee, he emphasised the importance of continuous improvement in Malaysian sports, adding that every minister brings valuable lessons.

“Every minister has recognised the importance of sports, but every time we move on (to a new minister) we learn from the previous minister.

“And with that is the plan to continue to improve Malaysian sports, in which the outcome of all that is the formation of the RTG committee,” he added.

Dr Ramlan advised against comparing ministers due to different circumstances and underscored the influence of generational athletes like Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Nicol David. 

He emphasised the fundamental difference between managing athletes and managing programmes.

“It would be an interesting exercise (if one were able to compare how one minister has performed over the year to another minister). But there is no basis for comparison.

“Why? Because if you look at the SEA Games for example, from one SEA Games to another, there may be sports that we are strong at which were once there but no longer there.

“If a previous minister saw success with these athletes, we might not always have athletes of the same calibre when they’re no longer around. It’s not guaranteed and it would not be a fair comparison. 

“But what is important is that sports are recognised and efforts are being made to improve our performance in terms of the performance management side. 

“Once you recognise these, then you will see the fundamental difference between managing athletes and managing programmes,” he added.

Dr Ramlan also lauded Hannah’s commitment to the development of local sports.

“She is making waves. At the very outset, she listens to different sections of the industry – athletes, coaches, associations and even people like me where I’ve been able to express my opinions. 

“I appreciate the fact that someone at that level of responsibility is still appreciative of my thoughts. 

“As a leader, she owns the mantle of responsibility. Whatever she does, she takes responsibility for continuous improvement,” he said. – January 1, 2024