PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Athletics (MA) are serious about raising the standards of local athletics and has taken a proactive step by appointing several national legends, including G. Shanti and Datuk Zaiton Othman, to support the governing body.
Shanti, who held the national 100m sprint record for 31 years, and Zaiton, a former heptathlon queen, will be joined by former pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli.
Also roped in are former high-ranking government officials such as Datuk Salim Parman, the team manager for the athletics squad at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, retired military officer Major General (Rtd) Datuk Padman Bhaskaran, and former Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Harjeet Singh.
MA president Datuk Karim Ibrahim said each of them would be assigned roles in various committees and will have a voice in council meetings to share their ideas and suggestions to help boost athletics in the country.
"First and foremost, we’ve appointed individuals who are capable of taking on key leadership roles, such as chairing various committees. For example, Datuk Zaiton Othman can contribute in the coaching committee and the other athletes can assist her in those areas.
