Veteran vs visionary: what swung Malaysia Athletics's presidential vote?

Free Malaysia Today

16-06-2025

Delegates opted for the tried-and-tested leadership of Karim Ibrahim amid Malaysia Athletics's turbulent legal and governance woes.
KUALA LUMPUR : Once pilloried, veteran athletics administrator Karim Ibrahim is now glorified.
Shahidan Kassim, who fled the contest for the Malaysia Athletics (MA) presidency, in contrast, is entirely the author of his own demise.
The reality is that Karim's steady appeal outweighed the ambitious proposals of his opponent, Mark Ling.
MA was a rudderless ship under the command of the politician, Shahidan.
Under him, everyone appeared to pull in different directions, distracted by different agendas.
At the annual general meeting yesterday, delegates were apparently worried that sweeping reforms could collapse without first shoring up the shaky foundations of MA.
They wanted solid ground before reaching for the skies.
Ling's progressive platform promised fresh momentum.
Yet critics saw unproven ideas lurking behind every flashy pitch and feared another misstep under Ling's reform agenda.
When the votes for MA's No 1 post were counted, familiarity carried the day.
The delegates chose the known quantity, Karim, over untested innovation.
It didn't matter to most that the world body had in 2018 dropped Karim as a member of its council for covering up doping practices in Malaysia.
For them, restoring trust in the sport mattered more than chasing radical change.
Now, MA must decide its next move.
The hurdles are daunting: legal battles, deep‑seated mistrust among athletes, and an association whose reputation has been badly bruised.
Will Karim mend its foundations before chasing glory? Or will Ling's big dreams derail fresh from the start?
Ling's vision crushed
Questions arose whether Mark Ling's ambitious projects could be realised without first stabilising Malaysia Athletics's foundations.
Ling's campaign emphasised transparency, grassroots revitalisation, and athlete-centric governance – an appeal sharpened by recent controversies.
He wanted to channel funding into under-resourced regions and establish performance metrics tied to medal targets at regional events.
Crucially, Ling sought to engage athletes directly.
He believed that rebuilding trust hinged on listening tours across all state associations, and forging a clear pathway for talent identification and development.
His 'outsider' status, while appealing to progressives, counted against him among those who felt that healing internal rifts demanded a familiar hand.
Ling, the past vice-president and coaching and development chairman, was left flapping, a scarecrow caught in a whirlwind.
He suddenly looked old, eventually reduced to a sluggish also-ran behind Karim's treble espresso performance.
Karim, who held the position from 2015 to 2019, received 25 votes, decisively defeating Ling who secured 14 nods.
Shahidan's withdrawal: strategy or surrender?
Many saw Shahidan Kassim's last-minute withdrawal from the presidential race as a tactical retreat.
At first, he told reporters he withdrew to focus on his role as Malaysia Aquatics president and his parliamentary duties, portraying it as a noble pivot.
Later, when asked by FMT whether he had been betrayed by anyone, the Arau MP said: 'Karim helped me in the last elections, now I'm supporting him to win (the presidency).'
Some speculated that mounting criticism over MA's poor strategies, the national athletes' disgruntlement, and legal entanglements made defeat inevitable, prompting a tactical retreat.
Shortly before one of the most contentious AGMs, a tense four-way contest for the presidency quickly collapsed into a straight showdown.
Shahidan and Terengganu athletics association (AA) chief Wan Hisham Wan Salleh both withdrew, leaving corporate leader Ling and Perak AA president Karim to battle it out for the top post.
The collapse of a tight challenge into a duel foreshadowed the delegates' desire for clarity amid chaos.
Seeds of turmoil
The AGM opened amid allegations of unresolved disciplinary matters, unethical conduct, and the shambolic state of MA.
The drama peaked on Friday when Asian championships bronze medallist Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin accused Shahidan and other MA officials of bullying him.
He claimed he was told whom to thank after his win and moaned over being blocked in his bid to compete as an independent athlete.
Tough task ahead for the new guardians of Malaysian athletics: (L-R) Josephine Kang, R Annamalai, Karim Ibrahim, Wan Hashim Wan Abdullah, Prof Mohd Rusli Abdullah and N Padmanathan.
Irfan has since asked the youth and sports ministry, the national sports council, and the world athletics body to launch formal probes.
Shahidan, facing mounting criticism over a stagnant three‑year term during which Malaysian athletics languished behind regional rivals, denied Irfan's claims.
He blamed a 'third party' for fomenting discord and insisted that his leadership remained unquestioned.
Nonetheless, the delegates' disenchantment was palpable when he abruptly exited the race before members began casting their ballots.
Wan Hisham's withdrawal was less dramatic but no less significant.
He declared his support for Ling and contested the deputy president's post, a decision prompted by the joint manifesto 'A role of service, not just a seat' released on Saturday.
The seeds of turmoil were planted in February, when then deputy president Fadzil A Bakar publicly alleged fraudulent claims associated with the 2024 Malaysian Athletics Awards Night.
Four months later, MA has yet to issue an official update on Fadzil's accusations, and he was subsequently removed from his post – another blow to the association's credibility.
Legal battles loom large on the horizon. The Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletics Association (FTKLAA) has challenged MA in court over governance issues; the High Court heard arguments on June 13 and adjourned the matter until July 27.
FTKLAA's injunction to halt MA's AGM was dismissed by the High Court on Friday, leaving the body with no choice but to forgo its say in the national athletics leadership.
Its problem stemmed from a recent MA constitutional amendment requiring FTKLAA to merge with the federal territories of Putrajaya and Labuan, a move which could not be completed in time for the AGM.
The amended constitution came into effect on Jan 15 after receiving approval from the sports commissioner's office.
Meanwhile, six Selangor AA affiliates have threatened legal action over 'procedural deficiencies' at their state AGM in late April.
The six entities held an extraordinary meeting on June 9 to nominate delegates for the AGM but were prevented from submitting their list on June 12.
Police were summoned to Wisma OCM, and statements were later recorded, a stark indicator of the depths of dissent within the sport.
Against this backdrop, Karim's task is formidable.
He inherits an association beset by legal challenges, athlete disaffection, and fractured state associations.
Advantages and consequences of an 'old face'
Returning to a past leader carries both promise and peril.
On one hand, Karim's deep understanding of MA's inner workings can expedite decision-making and reassure stakeholders. On the other, reliance on established networks risks perpetuating insularity, potentially stifling the very creativity Ling championed.
Karim has pledged immediate talks with state associations and athlete representatives, aiming to mend fractured relationships.
He must now secure fresh sponsorship and funding from the national sports council, and ensure continued support from World Athletics. His diplomatic skills will be tested in negotiations with government ministries and corporate sponsors alike.
How Karim navigates this tightrope will define MA's trajectory.
*The new office bearers elected by three delegates each from 12 state affiliates (minus FTKLAA) for the 2025-29 term are as follows:
President: Karim Ibrahim
Deputy president: Wan Hashim Wan Abdullah
Vice-presidents: R Annamalai, N Padmanathan, Mohd Rusli Abdullah, and Josephine Kang.