[UPDATED] Ask Shahidan what happened with SEA Games target, Hannah tells PAS

KUALA LUMPUR – PAS’ Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim should be among those answering criticism, especially by PAS, over Malaysia’s dismal performance at the 2023 SEA Games, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Hannah was responding to PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari taking her and her deputy Adam Adli Abdul Halim to task over the country’s failure in meeting the 40-gold medal target at the recently concluded SEA Games in Cambodia.

“I only have one response for PAS. They should speak to (Datuk Seri) Shahidan Kassim.

“Before making any comments, read the news and ask Shahidan his thoughts about the SEA Games before PAS opens its mouth.

“That is all I have to say,” she said when met today at the launching of the Sepak Takraw League jersey 2022/2023.

Shahidan is president of the Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) and Malaysia Swimming.

Previously, he announced a 10-gold medal target for the athletics squad.

Hoever, seeing how the athletics team had only won five golds, he recently said he accepted the criticism and that it was a mistake to announce the medal target without consulting MAF’s coaching panel.

The athletics squad also took home three silver and 12 bronze medals.

Malaysia had set a 40-gold target for the games, but the country’s achievement was worse when it ended on Tuesday than the previous edition in Vietnam last year.

The national contingent only managed 34 gold, 45 silver, and 97 bronze medals and was placed seventh in the overall tally.

It was Malaysia’s worst performance since collecting 31 gold medals in the 1995 edition in Chiang Mai, Thailand. – The Vibes, May 18, 2023