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Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Veteran vs visionary: what swung Malaysia Athletics's presidential vote?
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.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Police officer, 38, who used his nine-year-old daughter's phone to force underage girls to send naked photos is jailed
A disgraced police officer used his nine-year-old daughter's phone to trick young girls into sending him intimate photos. PC Mark Ling, 38, contacted a dozen girls under the age of 16 after he downloaded Snapchat and TikTok on his child's device in August last year. He then used a fake profile to manipulate them into sending him naked pictures and engaging in sexual activity, the Southend Echo has reported. Ling, who has since been dismissed from Essex Police, encouraged his victims to take part in online 'loyalty' tests to check their 'faithfulness' in relationships. He was today jailed for four and a half years at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of child sexual offences. In January, he admitted eight counts of sexual communications with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. One of Ling's victims said: 'The police are supposed to be trusted professionals with good intentions to help and support people – the Essex badge says protect and serve. 'I feel that he has shown the complete opposite to this, and it makes me doubt other police officers.' Ling appeared at his sentencing hearing via video link from HMP Norwich. He did not face the camera and stared into his lap as he was jailed. Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington from Essex Police said: 'I want to pay tribute to the bravery demonstrated by those affected by Mark Ling's actions. 'I want to thank those we identified and spoke to in trusting us with this information and to deal with this dreadful case. 'We police without fear or favour and where a crime is reported we investigate, regardless of who it involves. 'Tackling violence against women and girls is an absolute priority for Essex Police and we take all allegations seriously. 'Specialist detectives and staff have carried out a thorough investigation and ensure those affected are supported. 'Thanks to their work Ling has had no option but to admit to his crimes. Thanks to their professionalism and dedication he is now behind bars'. Ling was dismissed from Essex Police following an accelerated misconduct hearing on December 17 last year. A reporting restriction was put in place preventing the publication of the details of the hearing until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. The hearing heard allegations that between March 2021 and February 2023 Ling used false personas to engage in explicit conversations online. The allegations included he used another person's identity without their consent and he was dismissed immediately after they were found to be true.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
PC posed as teen to get images of children
A police officer has been jailed after he tricked children into sending him explicit images by pretending to be a teenager. Mark Ling used TikTok and Snapchat to get teenage girls to take part in "loyalty tests" where he would ask them to send sexual pictures of themselves. The 39-year-old, formerly of Ipswich, Suffolk, was sacked by Essex Police after he admitted 13 sexual offences involving children. Judge Martyn Levett said Ling was a "a sophisticated sex offender" as he jailed him for four years and six months at Ipswich Crown Court. Ling joined the force as a police constable in Essex in 2010 and later served in one of its operational support groups. Prosecutor Nicola May told Ipswich Crown Court Ling had used the phone owned by a member of his family to set up social media accounts where he posed as a teenager. He used images of children to make his fake accounts appear real. She said he initially used TikTok under the account name "Jessie" to join live streams where so-called "loyalty tests" were being organised, where teenagers would ask others to message their partners to test their relationships. On TikTok, posing as a teenage girl, Ling asked young girls to add a Snapchat account of a purported teenage boy named "Tom". Ling then asked the girls to "tease" the boy and ask if he was single as part of the "loyalty test". In reality Ling was behind the "Tom" account as well. Ms May said he "emotionally manipulated" 12 victims, who were aged between 12 and 14. The court heard one 14-year-old victim told the police the incident was "deeply traumatising" and said she had since suffered with panic attacks. A 13-year-old victim, who had ADHD and autism, said she feared the person behind the fake "boyfriend" account would come to her home as she had left on a location setting in Snapchat. Ling entered guilty pleas to the charges in January and February. Dressed in a white jumper with slicked back dark hair, Ling listened to Ms May set out the case while staring at the floor in the court dock. Defence barrister Emma Kutner said Ling was "disgusted" by his behaviour and wished "to apologise to his victims". Judge Levett told Ling that as he was a serving police officer: "You would have known how serious the offences you were committing were" and that he would have known the impact the crimes would have on victims. The judge also criticised the trend of "loyalty tests", saying they are "harming a generation of young people". Essex Police said that Ling had been sacked from the force following an "accelerated misconduct hearing" in December 2024. Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: "Mark Ling is a serial offender who has no place in policing. "He does not represent the thousands of hardworking, professional and dedicated officers, staff, and volunteers who work tirelessly each day to keep you safe. "I know they are as disgusted at Ling's actions as the public will be." An NSPCC spokesperson said: "As a police officer Ling was supposed to be there to protect young people. "This case highlights how offenders like Ling are moving their communications with a child from an open platform like TikTok to a private messaging app like Snapchat, allowing for abuse to take place unseen. "We need to see stronger regulation of private messaging platforms." TikTok told the BBC that they do not tolerate child sexual exploitation and place restrictions on young people's accounts and have technology that looks for signs of grooming. The BBC contacted Snapchat for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
Essex police officer posed as teen to get images of children
A police officer has been jailed after he tricked children into sending him explicit images by pretending to be a teenager. Mark Ling used TikTok and Snapchat to get teenage girls to take part in "loyalty tests" where he would ask them to send sexual pictures of themselves. The 39-year-old, formerly of Ipswich, Suffolk, was sacked by Essex Police after he admitted 13 sexual offences involving children. Judge Martyn Levett said Ling was a "a sophisticated sex offender" as he jailed him for four years and six months at Ipswich Crown Court. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
