Kuala Lumpur: “It’s difficult to quantify his contributions and services to the country’s sporting arena,” said former National Sports Institute chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz following the passing of former National Sports Council director-general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad yesterday. Dr Ramlan, who succeeded Mazlan as NSC director-general in 2005, described Mazlan, who led the NSC for 12 years, as the architect of national sports development, which paved the way for the integration of sports science, besides setting a high benchmark in athlete performance management and the integrated sports administration structure under the NSC.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mazlan’s contributions and services were not limited to sports and will be widely acknowledged by his successors. Dr Ramlan emphasized that Mazlan’s legacy would continue to be followed by future generations. Mazlan was laid to rest at the Section 9 Muslim Cemetery in Kota Damansara, where many came to pay their respects.
Meanwhile, Gh
azali Bujang, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) president from 1992 to 1994, praised Mazlan’s role in laying the foundation for swimming and diving development in Malaysia. Ghazali highlighted Mazlan’s foresight in recognizing diving as an area where Malaysia could excel due to the sport’s reliance on technical skills and disciplined training.
Mazlan’s impact was evident in the early 2000s, as national swimmers and divers began achieving success at international events, such as the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Ghazali acknowledged Mazlan as one of the key figures behind the achievements in aquatics that Malaysia enjoys today.
Mazlan’s son, Saiful Ezane, shared that his father had been admitted to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre after suffering a stroke and pneumonia, leading to his passing at the age of 75. Saiful remembered his father as a disciplined man both at work and at home, who deeply loved his family.
Mazlan’s tenure as NSC director-general from 1993 to 2005 was marked by signi
ficant advancements in Malaysian sports. He was instrumental in the success of the Jaya ’98 and Gemilang 2001 programmes, which enhanced Malaysia’s performance in major sporting events. His contributions included introducing long-term sports development policies, strengthening national backup athlete programmes, and restructuring the National Sports Institute to provide scientific support for elite athletes.
Mazlan also held important roles in national sports organizations, including the Malaysian National Cycling Federation, and served as Malaysia’s chef-de-mission for the 2001 SEA Games. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the National Sports Icon Award in 2022.