Kuala Lumpur: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has urged sports associations in the country to reduce political practices, especially during elections for new leadership. She emphasized the importance of conducting elections held during annual general meetings (AGMs) of sports associations fairly and transparently.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hannah expressed concerns that ongoing political practices could adversely affect the development and performance of athletes and their coaches. She stated, “Politics should stay with political parties. Sports associations should focus on sports activities,” during the Netball Super League (NSL) 2025 Clinic organised by Astro.
Hannah was responding to inquiries regarding the selection of candidates for the position of President of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (PHKL), where Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin faced accusations of forging nomination documents. These allegations came from his challenger, the incumbent I Vikneswaran, ahead of the PHKL
AGM.
She noted that accusations during AGMs or elections in sports associations are not uncommon and assured that the Sports Commissioner would take action if any wrongdoing is confirmed. “Every AGM is governed by established laws and guidelines. If complaints arise, the Sports Commissioner will address them, and in some cases, the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) may get involved,” she said.
On another note, Hannah mentioned that the National Sports Council (MSN) would assess the level of world championships involving athletes or teams before deciding on rewards. She highlighted that world championships vary significantly in the number of participating countries, which affects the MSN’s methods of calculation and recognition. “For instance, some World Cups involve five countries, while others have 100. These differences are why the MSN has its own methods of calculation and recognition. We must let them do their work and provide guidance,” she explained.
The NSL clinic today attracted 149 secon
dary school students aged 13 to 17 from across the country.