Sports associations believe politicians remain important in the scene

At the sport’s service: Malaysian Weightlifting Federation president Datuk Ayub Rahmat (centre) posing with Aniq Kasdan (left) and team manager Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim before the Paris Olympics.

PETALING JAYA: Politicians are not a bane in the sports fraternity.

Despite the Cabinet announcing that the administrative members, including ministers and deputy ministers, are not allowed to hold top positions in any sports association, some sports stakeholders believe those in political posts remain important in the scene.

Malaysia Swimming Federation secretary general Andy Low said it was not an issue at all.

Their current president, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is no longer a minister, so there are no issues with it.

“We got no problem as Shahidan is no longer a minister under the current administration,” he said.

“Plus the state affiliates have no problem with having a politician leading the association as they are the ones who help with funding for the events we run the whole year.”

Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ayub Rahmat, a former politician himself, said most sports association presidents are politicians.

Malaysia Swimming Federation president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

The impression that politicians are no good for sports is not right, he said, further stating that many politicians have helped bring success to the nation.

“There are some sports associations that are led by non-politicians, but the success is normal. There are some with politicians, we can see success in it,” said Ayub, who has been president since 2018.

“This is a subjective matter but we can’t categorise politicians as bad for sports. There are some who are focused on success and have achieved their goals.

“Take MWF for example, we have won gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and qualified for the recent Olympics.

“I guess the Cabinet not allowing ministers to compete is fair because they have ministerial duties. But other politicians can be part of the sports scene.

“There are politicians with good principles and see their standing in national sports associations as national service.”

Ayub, who was a Johor state assemblyman for Kemelah from 2004 to 2018, also said politicians usually take the heat when results do not come.

“When we win a medal in sports, the athletes get the plaudits but when he or she fails, it is the president that gets lambasted. Sometimes, I feel it is not fair because we do our part to invest in these athletes.

“To me, all the bad things should not be on us. Sports is a collective effort.

‘‘And we presidents are doing this not for ourselves but the nation.”