KUALA LUMPUR - The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has given an assurance that the national sepak takraw squad can compete in international tournaments, including the 2021 SEA Games and the 2022 Asian Games following a dispute between the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) and the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF).
OCM secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib said athletes could compete under OCM’s auspices in certain situations, such as PSM being suspended for a long period by ASTAF.
He, however, hoped, that the PSM, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail, could resolve the dispute amicably.
“PSM is going through a disciplinary process, we are still waiting to see the outcome of the action to be taken by ASTAF, although we are hoping they can find a peaceful resolution. We have to see the final results.
“Other than that, business as usual, we still continue the training and our Chef-de-Mission (Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin) is working closely with all the national sports associations. But in a worst case scenario, we ensure that the sepak takraw team will be sent under the OCM banner,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Mohd Nazifuddin said OCM had sent the national petanque athletes to the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines under OCM's banner after the Malaysian Petanque Federation were suspended by the international petanque federation (FIPJP).
ASTAF said in a statement yesterday that its executive committee had unanimously voted to proceed with disciplinary action against PSM following Ahmad’s statement regarding ASTAF’s elections on March 1.
PSM are temporarily suspended until a hearing is convened and have 14 days to send in a written response. They also face the possibility of a suspension, expulsion, fine, permanent ban or a combination of the mentioned sentences.
Meanwhile Sports Commissioner Ibrahim Mohd Yusof said the commission would hold a meeting with PSM to get a clearer perspective about the temporary suspension, while admitting that the latest development might jeopardise the country's sepak takraw development.
He, however, said he would wait until after the hearing before taking any further action.
"We will have to see what action can be taken in terms of their respective constitutions because I am not sure this is at the internal level sepak takraw community. We emphasise the aspects of integrity and governance not only for PSM but for all sports associations,” he said.
Ahmad, meanwhile questioned ASTAF’s action at a media conference at PSM’s headquarters and said that he would leave it to his legal team to handle the issue.
Youth and Sports deputy minister Wan Ahmad Fahysal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the ministry does not interfere in any internal matters involving associations, whereby all disputes and conflicts are left to the sports commissioner to mediate.
He said this when met at the Kuala Lumpur Rakan Muda Ramadan programme in Kampung Baru here today. - Bernama. April 30, 2021
