PETALING JAYA: Leave athletes alone and respect their choice of sports outfits, says Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (pic).
The minister came to the defence of athletes after the PAS-led Terengganu government ordered state athletes to wear syariah-compliant clothes from next year onwards.
“Please respect the choice of our HEROES & HEROINES. Leave them alone.
“I will stand with all of them regardless of their outfits. I am here because of them. Please leave them alone!” he wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.
“Dictating what athletes should wear is alarming as the future of sports like gymnastics, diving, swimming and bodybuilding will be affected.
“These are sports that Malaysia had excelled in, with multiple medals won at international sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, Asian Games and SEA Games,” said Syed Saddiq.
“Sports is for all and our athletes are our heroes and heroines. Some athletes have personally contacted me on this issue. I’m obligated to defend them as they are the nation’s assets.
“There are countless Muslim athletes who have contributed a lot of medals for the country, including Farah Ann Hadi (gymnastics), Nur Dhabitah Sabri (diving) and Sazali Samad (bodybuilder),” he said.
Syed Saddiq said professional track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, a well-known world champion from Terengganu, also achieved international recognition, regardless of his choice of outfit.
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