Perak: Perak Amateur Athletics Association president Datuk Karim Ibrahim has returned to helm Malaysia Athletics (MA) for the 2025-2029 term after winning the national body’s election at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today. Karim, who previously served as MA president from 2014 to 2019, garnered 25 votes to defeat Negeri Sembilan Athletics Association president Datuk Mark William Ling, who secured 14 votes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Karim expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him to lead Malaysia Athletics once again. He also called for unity and the end of negative remarks made during the campaign, emphasizing a collective effort for the future of athletics. This statement was made following the MA leadership election at Wisma OCM.

In a surprising turn of events, outgoing president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim withdrew from the race just before the election commenced. This unexpected decision left the path clear for Karim’s return.

The position of MA deputy president was secured by Terengganu Amateur Athletics Association president Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, who received 22 votes. His competitors, Mohamat Hassan and Sallehuddin Satar, garnered 9 and 5 votes, respectively.

The elections for the vice-president posts saw Prof Dr Mohamed Rusli Abdullah, Datuk R. Annamalai, and Padmanathan Nagappan victorious with 29, 24, and 22 votes, respectively, surpassing four other candidates. In the women’s vice-president category, Josephine Kang was elected unopposed as the sole female candidate.