High five for six national sports associations

PETALING JAYA: Six National Sports Associations (NSA) have received a “five star rating” by Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman for their management and administrative performances.

The associations that received the commendations for 2018 were the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM), Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), Malaysian Hockey Confederation ( MHC), Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA) and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Zaiton said that the performances and sporting achievements of the associations only contributed to 5% of the overall score.

“The criteria set for the awarding of the stars are mostly based on the good governance of the association and their strategic planning,” said Zaiton when contacted.

“Which is why we get questioned as to why FAM can achieve such a high score even though the national football team are ranked 167th in the world.

“We look at their annual report documents and check their premises for their finance reports, minutes of their annual general meeting and documentation.

“We also go through their filing system, administrative records and development and planning. These are the main criteria we look at when evaluating and awarding the stars.”

The objective of the star-rating is to measure the effectiveness of an NSA in governance in line with the 1997 National Sports Act. The last assessment was carried out in 2015.

SRAM director Mejar (Rtd) S. Maniam said they were honoured to be recognised as a five-star organisation once again by the Sports Commissioner. They were also awarded five stars in 2015.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been given this recognition, so I have to congratulate and compliment our SRAM management committee and all who have worked hard to ensure we have good governance,” said Maniam.

“I thank my staff for being prompt with their continuous engagement and in carrying out whatever is required from the National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC), National Sports Institute (ISN), Olympic Commission of Malaysia (OCM), accounts auditors and others bodies.”

BAM secretary Datuk Ng Chin Chai said that the association were pleased with having received the commendation for two consecutive assessments.

“Under the leadership of our president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, BAM have set clear guidelines on good governance. We have tightened our management of finances and are focused on the achievement of junior players.”