KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has called on Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to intervene and address what they claim to be 'extreme belligerence' by Sports Commissioner (SC) Suhardi Alias toward the umbrella body.
OCM released a statement today highlighting their dissatisfaction with Suhardi's comments on Sunday.
He asserted that OCM was not above the law and must comply with the Sports Development Act 1997 (Act 576), specifically highlighting sections eight and nine.
Suhardi also criticised the two national sports associations led by OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria (BA of Malaysia) and deputy president Datuk Hamidin Amin (FA of Malaysia), stating that both had failed to achieve their targets at the Phnom Penh Sea Games in May.
OCM secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib opined that commenting on athletes' performances was not within Suhardi's job scope.
"Not only has he refused to apologise for drawing parallels between OCM and the Israeli government, but his comments on the achievements and performances of national athletes fall outside his job scope, restricted to the laws pertaining to registration, de-registration, or suspension of sports bodies registered under the Act," said Nazifuddin.
"Suhardi's temerity can be seen as having declared war against OCM and our affiliates.
"OCM respects Suhardi's role as the Sports Commissioner and the vast powers vested in him under Act 576.
"But kindly note, a Parliamentary Act does not allow an individual to act unilaterally and arbitrarily against a sports organisation, let alone OCM, which is an umbrella body for 58 national sports associations."
"If Suhardi continues to be bellicose and hostile towards OCM, we subscribe to the IOC Charter, which compels NOCs to preserve our autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious, or economic pressures."
Nazifuddin added that OCM fully comprehends Act 576 and stresses that they have always abided by their own constitution.
The feud between OCM and Suhardi started last week when a leaked audio clip emerged, where the latter was heard threatening to de-register OCM, drawing parallels between them and the Israeli government.
The clip, a short excerpt from a recent closed meeting with two rival eSports groups, prompted Hamidin to issue a statement on Saturday via OCM, urging Suhardi to apologise for his remarks.
Suhardi claimed his remarks were taken out of context and lodged a police report against those who spread the clip, causing distress within the sporting community.
It is believed that his comments were made in jest to calm down the two eSports parties during the meeting.
