Latest news with #NurulHuda
New Straits Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Singapore splash to set the tone for SEA Games push
KUALA LUMPUR: The World Aquatics Championships in Singapore (July 27-Aug 3) will be a key test for the national swimmers as they gear up for the year-end SEA Games in Thailand. Former SEA Games champion Nurul Huda Abdullah, now Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) honorary assistant secretary and swimming committee co-chair, described the Singapore meet as a crucial part of final preparations. The national swimmers head into the championships fresh from competing at the World University Games (WUG) in Berlin, which wraps up just days before the Singapore event. "The SEA Games remain our top priority, but the World Championships are an important stepping stone," said Nurul Huda. "This back-to-back competition window offers a valuable learning curve. "It's a chance to see if our swimmers can maintain top-level performances in quick succession - a skill that will be vital as we enter the final stretch before December." At the Universiade, Khiew Hoe Yean shattered his own national record in the 400m freestyle, clocking 3:47.38s to eclipse the 3:48.36 mark he set last year. "Hoe Yean's time is encouraging — not only is it the fastest in Southeast Asia this year, it's the quickest ever recorded by a swimmer from the region," she added. While Nurul Huda is pleased with recent signs of progress, she stressed that there's still work to be done. "We've seen promising results, but there's no room for complacency. If we want success at the SEA Games, we must remain disciplined and focused right through to December." The squad: Khiew Hoe Yean (men's 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle), Andrew Goh (50m and 100m breaststroke), Bryan Leong (50m, 100m butterfly), Tan Khai Xin (200m and 400m individual medley) and Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal (4x 200m freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay) and Phee Jinq En (women's 50m and 100m breaststroke).
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Nurul Huda to lead Malaysia at 2025 SEA Games in Thailand
FORMER national swimming champion Nurul Huda Abdullah has been named Malaysia's chef de mission for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. The event will take place from December 9 to 20, with Nurul Huda leading the contingent alongside three deputies. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) announced her appointment, highlighting her extensive experience in sports administration and competition. She will be assisted by Badminton Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh, former sprinter Nazmizan Muhammad, and ex-hockey player Jivan Mohan. 'The selection was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council to ensure the most capable and experienced leaders guide the Malaysian contingent to success,' OCM stated. Nurul Huda is a decorated athlete, having represented Malaysia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She also holds the record for the most SEA Games medals won by a Malaysian, with 32 medals—22 gold, 8 silver, and 2 bronze—across the 1985, 1987, and 1989 editions. She remains the only Malaysian female swimmer to win medals at the Asian Games, securing two silver and two bronze medals at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. Her contributions to sports earned her Malaysia's Sportswoman of the Year title five times consecutively from 1985 to 1989. In 1987, she received the IOC Trophy for 'Women in Sports' and was later inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2004. Her leadership follows in the footsteps of former track star Datuk Marina Chin, who served as chef de mission during the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. – Bernama
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Former Swimming Queen Nurul Huda To Lead Malaysian Contingent At 2025 SEA Games
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Former national swimming queen Nurul Huda Abdullah has been appointed as Malaysia's chef de mission (CDM) to the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand scheduled from Dec 9 to 20. Nurul Huda, who was recently elected Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) vice president, will be assisted by three deputy CDM namely Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh, former sprint ace Nazmizan Muhammad and former hockey player Jivan Mohan. 'The selection of the chef de mission and deputy chefs de mission was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council to ensure the most capable and experienced leaders guide the Malaysian Contingent to success,' according to a statement issued by OCM today. bootstrap slideshow At the same time, OCM expressed confidence that this experienced and respected leadership team will inspire the Malaysian contingent to excel, uphold sportsmanship and bring pride to the nation at the 2025 SEA Games. Nurul Huda represented Malaysia at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and holds the record for the most medals won by a Malaysian athlete at the SEA Games with an incredible total of 32 medals, comprising 22 gold, 8 silver and 2 bronze across three consecutive editions in 1985, 1987 and 1989. She remains the first and only Malaysian female swimmer to have won a medal at the Asian Games, with an outstanding achievement of 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 10th Asian Games in Seoul 1986. In recognition of her remarkable contributions to Malaysian sports, she was named Malaysia's Sportswoman of the Year for five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, awarded the IOC Trophy themed 'Women in Sports' in 1987 and was inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2004. Nurul Huda followed the footsteps of former track queen Datuk Marina Chin, who served as CDM at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. -- BERNAMA
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Nurul Huda and three deputies to lead Sea Games contingent
KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has appointed Malaysian swimming great Nurul Huda Abdullah as chef de mission (CDM) for the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). Nurul Huda will be assisted by three deputy CDMs - experienced badminton administrator Datuk Kenny Goh, former national sprinter Nazmizan Mohamad as well as former national hockey player Jivan Mohan. OCM announced the appointment of the quartet in a statement today (July 7). Though OCM have the absolute right to select the CDM for multi-sport games, the umbrella body said the selection of the quartet was made in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Ministry as well as the National Sports Council. Nurul is no stranger to Malaysian sports as she holds the record for winning the most medals won by a Malaysian athlete at the Sea Games, having won 22 gold, eight silver and two bronze across three editions (Thailand 1985, Indonesia 1987, Kuala Lumpur 1989). She remains the only Malaysian female swimmer to have won a medal at the Asian Games. She won two silver and two bronze at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. She previously served as deputy CDM during the 2019 Hanoi Sea Games and has been Malaysia Aquatics assistant honorary secretary since 2023. Kenny was appointed BA of Malaysia general manager in 2006 and was promoted to secretary-general in 2019. He has also served Badminton Asia as secretary-general since since 2023. Nazmizan achieved a double-gold feat (100m, 200m) at the 2003 Sea Games and went on to compete at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Jivan was part of the national hockey squad that secured bronze at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and finished fifth at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. The Thailand Sea Games is expected to be held across three areas - Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla - hence the need for three deputy CDMs. NSC is expecting to send up to 700 athletes to compete in 48 sports at the Sea Games this year.
The Diplomat
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Why is Mob Violence So Common in Bangladesh?
On June 23, Bangladesh's former Chief Election Commissioner K.M. Nurul Huda, who oversaw the controversial 2018 national elections, was attacked by an angry mob. Police subsequently arrested him at his home in Uttara, Dhaka. A disturbing video circulating on social media shows Huda wearing a white T-shirt and lungi, with a garland of shoes hung around his neck. An angry mob surrounds him and at one point, a bearded man begins slapping him with a shoe, even as the mob chants: 'Nurul Hudar dui gale, juta maro taley taley' (Slap Nurul Huda with shoes on both cheeks). Mob beatings have become common in Bangladesh. The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) reported that at least 119 people were killed and 74 others injured in 114 mob incidents between August 2024 and March 2025, i.e. since the interim government took charge after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government. According to HRSS, most of the post-August mob incidents were related to political score settling. However, mob violence is not a recent phenomenon in Bangladesh. Neither is it a creation of the Muhammad Yunus government. Rather, the recent incidents are a carryover of past experiences. According to HRSS, over 1,000 mob incidents were reported between 2015 and 2024, resulting in 792 deaths and 765 injuries. Pre-August 2024 mob incidents were mostly connected with suspicions of theft, robbery, and mugging. So why do people indulge in vigilante violence? What drives them to take the law into their own hands? The absence of the rule of law is the main reason for mob violence. Some argue that at the core of this crisis is a deep breakdown in public trust in institutions. Years of politically influenced policing and a sluggish justice system have left many Bangladeshis disillusioned with those in power. A 2024 survey by the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) found that 72 percent of people believed that police would not respond to crimes effectively. However, in Bangladesh, mob violence is not just about lack of trust in criminal justice institutions and processes. Since its independence 54 years ago, Bangladesh has struggled to build a solid foundation for national solidarity or inclusivity. National identity has oscillated between secularism and Islam. The Mujib government introduced secularism in the 1972 constitution. Many argue that the concept was imposed from above against popular will due to pressure from the Soviet Union and India. Secularism was later removed from the constitution in 1978, and 'absolute faith and trust in Almighty Allah' was added to the constitution. The subsequent military ruler, Gen Hussain Muhammad Ershad, went one step further and declared Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina restored secularism in 2013, but kept Islam as the state religion. This oscillation and ambiguity has left Bangladesh without a shared identity. It has divided society into two opposing groups — Shapla (Hefazat) and Shahbag (Ganojagoran Moncho). Shapla is the embodiment and protector of Islam, while Shahbag refers to those who call themselves progressive and defenders of liberal values. Both groups view the other as a threat to its very existence. Shapla demanded capital punishment for blasphemy and Shahbag wanted a ban on religion-based politics and capital punishment for Islamist leaders accused of crimes against humanity. These opposing visions led to violent clashes and the tragic killings of bloggers in 2013 and 2014. Over time, this conflict planted the seeds of deep resentment and intolerance, making it harder for people to accept differing viewpoints. Both groups failed to live by their ideals. While secularists helped Hasina become authoritarian, Islamists did not promote a value-based society. As a result, Bangladeshi society now faces a growing crisis of polarization and hostility toward dissenting voices and actions. Bangladesh's political culture has also played a role in promoting mob violence. Since the end of military rule in 1990 and the return of democracy, three troubling features have come to define Bangladesh's political landscape: crowd politics, street violence, and extortion. Mass gatherings — often orchestrated by political parties — have become a routine tool for showing strength. These crowds aren't just about protest; they're about power, visibility, and pressure. In many ways, crowd politics has become woven into the fabric of how politics is done in Bangladesh. Street violence, meanwhile, has long been used as a blunt instrument to force the ruling party to respond to opposition demands. Nearly 2,000 individuals were killed in political violence in just nine years between 2009 and 2017. Yet justice remains elusive — no trials, no accountability. This has sent a chilling message: violence can be used with impunity. Extortion is rampant; so common is its practice that most people have either experienced it or know someone who has. Often carried out by groups linked to political actors, extortion is used to fund muscle power and maintain control. Victims rarely get help from the police, who are either powerless or unwilling to intervene. For many, this has become an accepted part of daily life. Together, these practices have normalized mob culture where force, fear, and informal power often override law and justice. Breaking free from this cycle will require more than just political reform. It calls for a deep transformation of the country's political, institutional, and social culture.
