To boost Malaysia's motorsports industry, the authorities need to create a proper coaching syllabus and certification system for racing trainers, said former world championship rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
He said this will help streamline the development of new talent in Malaysia and create job opportunities for riders after the end of their competitive careers.
"I believe that to further develop sports in Malaysia, motorsports especially, we need to standardise our coaching syllabus so that everyone is moving in the same direction," said Zulfahmi.
"The authorities need to develop a standard syllabus and subsequently train the trainers.
"The trainers who have completed their courses, should then be awarded certificates, similar to what is done in football.
"This is one way for us to help our former riders (to become certified coaches) and also help create better quality riders who are taught the correct techniques from the very start.
"At the moment this does not exist in Malaysian motorsports.
"Other countries such as Italy have already done so through their national federations.
"In Malaysia, the highest authorities in motorsports are the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC). They should work together to help the sport.
"This is my personal opinion, I am sure other people have their own ideas on how to help the industry."
Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu recently said his ministry is looking at further developing the sports industry in Malaysia.
Zulfahmi believes there is substantial demand for training programmes for children in Malaysia which has yet to be met.
"There are parents who have the time to train their own children, but there are also plenty of parents who are just too busy with work," said Zulfahmi.
"I use myself as an example. I work six to seven days a week and although I spend a lot of time at the track. it is only for work.
"I don't have any time to train my own children at the track.
"If there were a club or coaching programme for young children which follows the proper guidelines, I would definitely send my children there just like how people send their children for swimming classes.
"I'm sure other busy parents would also do the same if such a programme existed."
Zulfahmi spent six years racing as a full season Moto3 rider between 2010 and 2015 and moved on to the SuperSport World Championship for 2016-2017.
He ended his competitive career at world level after a brief stint in Moto2 in 2018.
He currently manages SIC's rider development programme, which includes top talents such as Moto3 World Junior Championship rider Syarifuddin Azman, European Talent Cup rider Hakim Danish Ramli and Adam Norrodin (Moto2 European Championship), through his company, ZK Racing.
