ISAM’s status as governing body of ice skating under probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ice Skating Association of Malaysia’s (ISAM) position as an affiliate member of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) is under scrutiny.

Aware of the body’s de-registration by the Sports Commissioner, the association’s secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib has said he will discuss the matter with the council’s executive board today on their status with OCM.

ISAM have been de-registered by the Sports Commissioner for failing to present financial reports from 2008 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017, and the body have also rejected their appeal.

“We will look at their status because they have been taken out as the governing body of ice skating by the Sports Commisioner. This matter will be brought to the council meeting in March, and if their status does not change, we will have to take them out as a member,” said Nazifuddin.

“Right now, we are aware that ISAM have been de-registered and there is a new governing body in the form of Malaysian Ice Skating Federation (MISF).

“However, MISF have yet to send an application to us. Also, ISAM are still part of the International Skating Union (ISU). Only the Sports Commissioner has approved MISF,” he said after meeting ISAM president Mohd Fadzli Johan and his team at the OCM yesterday.

Nazifuddin suggested that ISAM meet Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to discuss the matter and also consider merging with MISF to ensure that athletes will not be affected by the problem.

“We see this matter seriously. As parent body, we spoke to them and listened to them. I have advised them to merge so that athletes and officials under both bodies can be together and save the assets under ISAM,” he said.

Fadzli said they will arrange a meeting with the Youth and Sports Ministry to discuss the matter and are willing to talk with all the parties concerned over the issue.

“For me, I do not want the athletes to be affected. Our account has been frozen and some athletes who are going to take part in international tournaments might pull out as they do not have any allocation.

“We want this matter to be solved for the betterment of the sport.”