Kuala Lumpur: Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail has been officially appointed as the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) chairman effective today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) expressed confidence in Ahmad Shapawi’s experience as the former National Sports Council (MSN) director-general, believing it qualifies him to lead YAKEB and safeguard the welfare of former national athletes. The ministry shared its sentiments through an official Instagram statement, congratulating Ahmad Shapawi on his new role and highlighting his capability to ensure the well-being of past national athletes.

Ahmad Shapawi takes over the position from Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed, who served as the chairman for three terms since 2019. He will be supported by the YAKEB board of directors for the 2025-2027 term. The board includes prominent figures such as Hafiz Mat Ramly, Principal Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Chan Hong Jin, Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic) at KBS, and Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, Director at the National Sports Institute.

Other notable board members are Normala Abdul Rashid, a former national footballer and President of the Srikandi Sports and Charity Club, Sharon Wee Ee Li, a former national squash player and Vice President 1 of the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia, R. Sharmendran, a former national karate athlete and acting head coach of the national karate squad, and Soo Beng Kiang, a former national badminton player.