ATHLETES VERSUS OCM
We gave a chance to them (previous AC leadership) to get more sports involved but there was not much improvement and most of them were the same faces.”
— OCM secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib
Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria,
President of the Olympic Council Malaysia
Mezzanine Floor, Wisma OCM
Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur 26 March 2019
WE are writing to you to express our disappointment in the OCM Executive Board (EB) for suspending the Athletes’ Commission without any notice prior to or after the fact. We were not informed of the reason for this; it was indicated to us unofficially that the EB was not happy with the composition of the members, and did not feel that the members were properly elected.
Please allow us to lay out the process we undertook for the elections once again:
When the new term began, in order to move forward, both Datuk Nazifuddin and yourself informed us that the previous term’s active members namely Noraseela, Tunku Nazroff and May Tan were to remain as members of the AC to ensure smooth transition for the following term in 2021.
In the interim, we had proposed 8 names, as advised by yourself and Datuk Nazifuddin, to the EB on 6 June 2018 for consideration. As the EB was not in favour of the list, we then wrote to all the National Sports Associations, as advised by the EB, to encourage them to nominate their own athletes, or their athletes to nominate other athletes, to sit on the new AC committee. During the nomination period from 28 July to 14 September 2018 (including extensions given), we received 10 nominations, which were then presented to the EB on 18 Sep 2018. However, this list was not deliberated on, and instead, we were asked again to look for more candidates from the NSAs, and then hold an election for the positions.
With another extension to the NSAs and more names submitted, the AC had its first meeting on 22 Oct 2018. The meeting was attended by the 14 nominees for OCM AC and NSA’s reps, while 3 nominees were absent. Datuk Nazifuddin as Adviser for the AC, chaired the meeting and election process. The meeting concluded with the following structure and was presented to the EB on 12 Nov 2018: May Tan (Swimming)
Shalin Zulkifli (Bowling)
Yap Khim Wen (Taekwondo)
Loh Jack Chang (Wushu) Azlan Misron (Hockey), Fairul Izwan Abd Muin (Lawn Bowl)
OCM ATHLETES’ COMMISSION RESTRUCTURE
We had also sought advice from IOC AC, and had received feedback from them that the due process was acceptable.
Therefore, it was with much surprise that we learnt that the EB decided to revoke the AC, despite the fact that Datuk Nazifuddin, as Adviser, endorsed the election process & its results. Unfortunately, there was no official notice given to the AC members on its status and dissolution. It is due to these reasons that we feel disenchanted with the EB for not being upfront with the AC with the reasons for their decision and for not following appropriate procedures. It was a lost opportunity for improvement for the AC as well as the AC’s working relationship with the EB/NOC.
It is our sincere hope that with the restructuring of the AC, the EB of OCM will be more transparent in its decisions and act in accordance to the IOC’s recommendation and guidelines to ensure the AC is effective, and represents a strong platform for the athletes. Noraseela Mohd Khalid
Tunku Nazroff Tunku Mokhsin May Tan
Shalin Zulkifli
Sara Yap
Loh Jack Chang
Azlan Misron
Fairul Izwan Abd Muin