Athletes: Step down to save sport

TWO senior athletes have called for the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) leadership to step down if there is to be any hope of saving Malaysian athletics.

Pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and sprinter Siti Fatima Mohamad want to see a new line up of office bearers installed as the current MAAU leadership has lost the trust of the elite athletes.

The final straw for the athletes was the appointment of a state official at the centre of a sexual harassment allegation last year to the MAAU coaching and development committee.

The MAAU executive committee last September found the official guilty of "unwarranted behaviour" at an international meeting and banned him from any involvement with national athletes.

Roslinda, speaking on behalf of all senior national athletes, said MAAU acted in bad faith by appointing him to the committee as he would still come into contact with athletes.
"When I first found out about this, I was furious. We made it clear when we lodged a complaint against him that we do not want him to have any involvement with national athletes.

"We even sent a letter to the president (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim) (pic) about this. What they have done is unethical and against the interest of athletes. We are very concerned what effect this might have on the athletes, especially the juniors," said a livid Roslinda, 27, when met before training at Bukit Jalil yesterday.

At a risk of facing disciplinary action, Roslinda and Siti Fatima both believe a change in the MAAU leadership is necessary if the national body is to regain the trust of the athletes.

"MAAU should be looking after our interests but its action says otherwise. We think it is very urgent that new people come into MAAU. That is the only way things are going to change," said Roslinda.

"We hope the higher authorities take note of our apprehension and help us. MAAU has run the sport into the ground.

"We know we might face repercussions for speaking out but we cannot keep silent anymore. We only want what is best for Malaysian athletics."

What is worse, there have been attempts by certain parties to prevent the athletes from speaking to the media.

"We have been receiving a number of telephone calls lately from certain people telling us not to speak to the press. We are now very careful not to answer calls from telephone numbers we do not recognise," said Roslinda, who declined to identify the callers.

Siti Fatima added that a number of athletes have become disillusioned with all that is happening around them.

(from left)Roslinda and Siti Fatima

"No one has quit yet but it would not surprise us if someone did as they are close to breaking point. But we will continue to train as usual because we compete for the country, not for ourselves," she said.

The state official's inclusion in the coaching and development committee, which is headed by MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim, was approved at a board meeting on Jan 18.

The board meeting was attended by Shahidan and Olympic Council of Malaysia vice-president Prof Datuk W. Y. Chin, who chaired the MAAU disciplinary committee which found the official guilty of unwarranted behaviour at an international meeting last year involving a liaison officer to the Malaysian team.