OCM pushed to hold contest

It could be bettter: Malaysia’s chef de mission to the Paris Olympics, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (left), Norza (centre) and squash legend Datuk Nicol Ann David (right) posing with the official apparel of the Malaysian contingent to the games at Plaza Raintree, Tun Razak Exchange in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

JOHOR BARU: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) should organise an open competition to redesign the national contingent’s apparel and let the public vote for the best designs, say youth groups.

Young Malaysians Movement organising secretary Brevia Pan Woon Shien said this will encourage a wider range of excellent designs, enhancing the strength and image of athletes on the international stage.

“Maybe in the future, OCM will allow the public to participate in designing the sportswear, implement a fair voting mechanism and allow the public to contribute to the country,” she said when contacted.

Pan said the Youth and Sports Ministry and OCM should also collaborate with relevant agencies or the private sector to ensure careful consideration of the designs before approval.

“We want to give them a morale boost. The attire’s design represents our national image and is the first impression of the country on the global stage,” she explained.

Sharing the same call is Malaysian Youth Council information chief Mohamad Fazril Mohd Saleh, who welcomed the OCM’s decision to redesign the athletes’ apparel.

“Netizens have indeed been very creative in presenting new design suggestions.

“OCM could also open up opportunities for Malaysians to contribute ideas, given our collective sense of belonging and love for the country,” he suggested.

Mohamad Fazril emphasised the importance of retaining the iconic stripes of the Malayan tiger, a cherished national symbol.

He also believed that everyone, including critics, had good intentions in wanting the best for the national team.

“Perhaps introducing a new, more satisfactory design for the Malaysian contingent’s kit will ease this issue, allowing all Malaysians to focus on supporting and backing our national team in the pursuit of success on the Olympic stage,” he added.

OCM announced plans to redesign the national contingent’s apparel for the Paris Olympics following public backlash over the initial designs.

In a statement released on Friday, OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria assured that the new design will better symbolise Malaysia’s status and meet the public expectations after the initial gold-themed outfits with tiger stripe designs were criticised online as “ugly” and “cheap-looking”.