Track and field on the right track as leader makes dignified exit

MALAYSIAN athletics has long been a theatre of intrigue, controversy and, at one time, par excellence. Few figures embody this complex landscape more than Datuk Karim Ibrahim.

Since narrowly defeating N.A. Baskaran for the secretary’s post in the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) elections in 1993, Karim has survived suspensions, ousters and controversies, only to return time and again to the decision-making table.

His tenure has been marked by both milestones and missteps. From MAAU’s suspension under the Sports Development Act in 1997 to their rebranding into MAU, MAF and now Malaysian Athletics (MA), Karim has never escaped scrutiny.

Yours truly was among his harshest critics, reporting on events leading to MAAU’s suspension in 2002 for The Malay Mail. Later, on Astro Arena’s Kafe Sukan, Karim vowed never to entertain my requests for interviews.

In 2012, Dengan Izin, a hard talk show I hosted, aired the recording of an alleged conversation among Karim, chief coach Harun Rasheed Othman and six athletes who were told to skip a doping test and flee to Bulgaria. The recording absolved Harun of blame but left Karim’s reputation scarred.

While Harun and the athletes bore the brunt of sanctions, independent reports suggested Karim’s involvement was downplayed. The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) have since sought harsher penalties, underscoring lingering mistrust.

Karim also came under heavy flak regarding his eligibility to hold office under World Athletics rules, with critics questioning whether his past suspensions should have disqualified him.

By 2026, Karim’s legacy remains contested. Yet he has overseen reforms that cannot be ignored since assuming the MA presidency last year.

Despite financial constraints, MA staged the Malaysian Open in Perlis, preserving the national athletics calendar. Karim also restored ties with the National Sports Council (NSC), unlocking funding support.

Athlete welfare issues long neglected were finally addressed: former national athlete P. Savithri received overdue entitlements from the 1971 SEAP Games, while incentive arrears dating back to 1966 were cleared in February 2026.

Karim’s administration embraced governance reforms, including rotational responsibilities among council members, new SOPs and a transparent coaching selection process. Collaborations with coaches from India, Germany, Jamaica and the US strengthened Malaysia’s technical base.

His decision to step down in 2026 amid constitutional amendments and pressure from reform groups like RISE reflects both accountability and necessity.

Ironically, Karim himself had earlier pushed for constitutional changes to set the age limit for office bearers at 70 — a move that now automatically disqualifies him from the presidency at 71.

Are MA finally free from the baggage of past indiscretions?

While governance debates rage, the athletes themselves are writing a different story.

Malaysian athletics in 2026 has been defined by breakthroughs. Mohd Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif lowered his times in both the 60m hurdles and 110m hurdles, culminating in a national record of 13.58s at the Asian U-23 Championships.

Umar Osman smashed the 400m national record with 45.73s in Taipei and added a personal best of 1:49.40 in the 800m.

Jonah Chang Rigan raised the shot putt standard twice, first with 18.81m in Mokpo, then with a massive 19.12m in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Irfan Shamsuddin hurled 62.87m in Hungary to set a new national benchmark in discus, though his failure to register a single throw at the recent Commonwealth Games was unacceptable at this level.

In total, five national records and nine personal bests were achieved this year alone. These performances underline a crucial point: Malaysia’s Podium Programme is delivering tangible results.

The narrative is clear. Athletics is quietly building a culture of excellence. Records are being broken, athletes are pushing boundaries and Malaysia is proving it can stand shoulder to shoulder with Asia’s best.

The challenge now is to ensure reform is not cosmetic but structural, that athlete welfare remains central, and that governance supports rather than undermines performance.

Ultimately, Malaysian athletics will be judged not by the controversies of its administrators but by the achievements of its athletes on the track and field.

As Karim’s own rule ends his reign with a newly-adopted 325 pages of the MA constitution, the athletes have shown that the sport is alive, ambitious, and ready to rise.