KUALA LUMPUR – The sports fraternity welcomes the appointment of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as youth and sports minister.
Faizal will take over the portfolio from Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who was appointed housing and local government minister in the new cabinet line-up, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said that exciting times are ahead with the appointment of Faizal as the new sports minister.
“The sports fraternity has always been lucky with young and energetic leaders becoming ministers. It started with Khairy Jamaluddin, followed by Syed Saddiq, Reezal Merican and now, we have Faizal, so this appointment is good for Malaysian sports.
“I know that he loves and understands hockey, and this makes it easier for me as president of the national body to work together with him for the betterment of the sport,” Subahan told The Vibes.
At the same time, Subahan said that all sports associations and related sports bodies should give full support to Faizal and help him in his job to bring Malaysian sports to another level. "We cannot expect sports ministers to work miracles in the short tenure they have."
Meanwhile, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohd Norza Zakaria welcomed the appointment of Faizal and hoped that he will continue the strong legacy of Reezal Merican.
“We hope that he will continue with the changes mooted by Datuk Seri Reezal of giving OCM the expanded role especially towards Paris 2024. We hope that he can guide us through our plan for 2022, which is going to be a busy year for the sporting world.
“I also hope he supports my plan to initiate a pension scheme for athletes,” Norza said.
Norza thanked Reezal Merican for guiding the OCM, National Sports Council (NSC) and the sports associations through these unprecedented times.
“The Covid-19 situation hit the sports industry badly and Datuk Seri Reezal helped it move forward. He was a big help to the whole industry,” he said.
FA of Malaysia president Datuk Hamidin Amin added that he is looking forward to working with Faizal and believes that his appointment is good for sports, especially football.
At the same time, NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi added that it is great to have Faizal as the sports minister as he is no stranger to the sporting arena.
“He steered the success of the 19th edition of Sukma Games in 2018, which was hosted by Perak. His appointment will certainly lift the ‘Malaysian Family’ spirit within the sports community." The Vibes August 27, 2021
