PETALING JAYA: Accept the change and let the new generation lead Malaysian athletics.
That was the message from outgoing Malaysian Athletics (MA) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim ahead of the body’s annual general meeting (AGM) this Saturday, as he broke his silence over a proposed constitutional amendment that the MA Council has moved to reject.
In a statement, Karim said his announcement to leave the MA presidency on May 6 is in line with the council first amendment of several constitutional clauses to align with World Athletics (WA).
Chief among those proposed changes are capping the age of MA council office bearers at 70 years old and introducing a quota for women’s representation on the council.
"If these conditions are met, I will step down from my position as MA President once the approval process for the MA constitutional amendments is completed at the Sports Commissioner (PJS) and World Athletics levels," Karim said.
"But the MA Council have since rejected the proposed age-limit amendment — a clause that, had it passed, would have rendered me ineligible to contest any position in the upcoming election cycle.
"I am disappointed to find that the MA Council have rejected the proposed amendment to limit the age of office bearers to individuals under 70 years old," he said.
Karim is now making a direct appeal to delegates attending Saturday’s AGM, urging them to put the age-limit motion back on the table and approve it, a step he says is necessary to bring MA’s constitution in line with WA policy and, by extension, to allow him to make good on his promise to step aside.
"I hereby urge that the motion to limit the age of council members to under 70 years old be discussed and approved at the MA Annual General Meeting this Saturday," Karim said.
