KUALA LUMPUR — When life hands you “buah nangka”, sometimes all you can do is share them with friends.
But for former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, the local fruit from his backyard is far from the only thing he is offering – at least according to allegations in the latest political drama surrounding the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM).
A series of corruption accusations has overshadowed the upcoming election, with the spotlight now firmly on Shapawi and his fellow National Sports Council (NSC) officer, Mohd Sofian Hamzah.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, incumbent PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin filed a formal complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), accusing Shapawi and Sofian of engaging in corrupt practices within the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The complaint asserts that Shapawi, along with Sofian, allegedly bribed BAM officials to secure Shapawi’s appointment to a committee and his nomination to contest against Megat in tomorrow’s PCM election.
Shocked and vehemently denying the accusations, Shapawi expressed confusion over the grounds of the report, saying, “I am not sure what I could have possibly offered BAM to support such a claim. I own nothing except three buah nangka (jackfruits) from the backyard of my home, which I sometimes share with friends at BAM.”
The controversy stems from a tense battle for the PCM presidency. Shapawi, who retired from the NSC after 35 years of service, is running for the top position against the incumbent president, Megat, who has been at the helm since 2019.
Shapawi’s candidacy comes after expressing concerns about the internal dynamics of PCM, particularly its blame-focused leadership style.
Backed by nominations from both the BAM and the Malaysian Canoe Association (MASCA), Shapawi hopes to bring a more collaborative approach to the PCM.
However, Shapawi’s path to the presidency has become clouded with allegations.
The 2019 PCM leadership election also saw similar tactics, according to Shapawi, where public accusations were made against a rival candidate.
Despite a court ruling that did not favour the accuser, Shapawi believes this could be part of a larger strategy to undermine his candidacy.
“I am open to MACC conducting an investigation, but if the investigation finds no evidence against me, I will take similar action to hold him accountable for tarnishing my reputation so openly,” Shapawi said in a statement to the media today.
On the other side, Megat stands firm in his accusations, asserting that the investigation into Shapawi and Sofian is necessary to maintain the integrity of the PCM.
“This is to ensure that member organisations are not involved in corruption, as every national sports association is a public entity,” he remarked. — December 13, 2024