Justify claims of corruption in sports bodies, OCM tells Adam Adli

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has urged Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim to justify his allegations that the sports fraternity is plagued with elements of corruption.

OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria described the statement as uncalled for, unfair and prejudicial as various national sports bodies had succeeded in producing world champions throughout the decades.

"As the umbrella body of 57 national sports associations, the OCM is deeply disappointed with Adam Adli's statement which was not fully justified and not backed by evidence.

"Rightfully, Adam Adli should engage stakeholders before coming up with a blanket statement that reflects his poor understanding of the existing structure," he said in a statement on Monday (Dec 12).

Norza pointed out that a number of sports associations have been recognised as models of best practices and good governance.

He said the same set of associations had helped raise the profile of sports in the country by producing world-beaters in badminton, cycling, diving, bowling and silat.

"Although the sports associations are far from perfect and work within constraints, you cannot paint us with the same brush. Undoubtedly, there are weaknesses that need to be rectified but to claim that the sports fraternity is corrupt is prejudicial and immature," said Mohamad Norza, who is also the president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said, in the same statement, that it would be good if the Deputy Minister had engaged stakeholders before jumping to any conclusions.

Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt concurred and expressed his disappointment with the statement, which he described as populist in nature.

"The statement does not benefit anybody. It only serves to antagonise national sports associations who are supposedly the biggest stakeholders in the sporting fraternity. It is not fair for those who have worked hard and toiled night and day to bring success to their respective sports," he said. – Bernama