KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has taken full responsibility for the controversy over the design of the Malaysian contingent's attire for the Paris Olympics.
OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria acknowledged the confusion and discontent caused by the design and expressed regret for the oversight.
He assured the public of their commitment to address the issue.
He said OCM will collaborate with Yonex to improve the attire's design, ensuring it represents the nation's status and expectations.
He also addressed concerns about the logo, featuring the waving Malaysian flag and five Olympic rings, that adheres to the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The five-colour version is used on a white background, while a monochrome or single-colour version is used for contrast on other coloured backgrounds.
"After considering feedback from the Youth and Sports Minister (KBS), the National Sports Council (NSC), and sports fans, OCM acknowledges that the design of the official jacket did not meet expectations," Norza's statement read.
"The original intention behind the gold-themed jacket, combined with black and featuring a gold-coloured OCM logo, was to symbolise the aspirations of the Malaysian contingent to secure the country's first Olympic gold medal. However, the design was not well-received."
"We take full responsibility for this oversight and will improve the existing design to depict the Tiger motif on the jacket clearly and to use the coloured OCM logo, respecting the status of Jalur Gemilang."
"We sincerely thank all stakeholders and sports fans who have expressed their concerns and provided constructive feedback on the launch event and the design of the official attire for the Malaysian contingent to Paris 2024. We take these concerns seriously and are committed to rectifying the issue promptly."
The official attire of the Malaysian contingent was unveiled by the OCM last Sunday, but fans have panned the designs as "ugly", "cheap-looking" and outdated compared with previous designs.
Norza explained that Yonex has been the official attire sponsor for the Malaysian contingent since 2014. The patterns, designs, and motifs of the outfits are updated with each new sponsorship cycle, typically starting from the Sea Games and concluding at the Olympic Games.
He added that the design for the official attire of the Malaysian contingent will undergo a new cycle, starting with the 2025 Thailand Sea Games and continuing through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He also urged all Malaysians to unite and support the national contingent, emphasising the shared goal of bringing pride and success to the country.
"We hope Malaysians will join together and pray for the success of the Malaysian contingent with full spirit and unity, just as they have shown enthusiasm in providing views on the attire."
