KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Athletics president Datuk Karim Ibrahim will go on leave starting tomorrow to allow the national body to implement constitutional amendments that, if approved, will see several council members, including Karim, relinquish their posts.
At a council meeting at Wisma OCM earlier today, Karim announced his intention to step aside temporarily but said he would return for the association’s annual general meeting, which must be held by June 30, or at an extraordinary general meeting where the new constitution will be tabled.
A two-thirds majority will be required for approval.
Karim said he would relinquish his seat once the constitution receives approval from World Athletics and the Sports Commissioner’s Office.
The last approval process took seven months, but Karim said he is confident the amendments will be cleared more quickly this time.
During Karim’s absence, deputy president Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh will assume presidential duties, while Professor Dr Rusli Abdullah, the current vice-president, will take over Wan Hisham’s role.
Wan Hisham will spearhead efforts to align the constitution with the requirements of World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee, which imposes an age cap of 70 for council members.
The move will directly affect several Malaysia Athletics council members, including Perlis’ M. Iyaru Muthusamy, 82, and Pahang’s Datuk R. Annamalai, 78.
“As for me, it is quite difficult to relinquish the post as I was legitimately elected as president. But for the good of the sport and everyone, I am prepared to step down after the constitution is passed and approved by the Sports Commissioner,” said Karim.
“However, I will continue to serve for the love of athletics at whatever level – state, district or school – if my contribution is needed.
“My priority has always been to safeguard the stability of the association, uphold good governance, and ensure continuity in our work.
“The timing is deliberate as it allows us to complete a critical governance responsibility, which is the alignment of our Constitution with that of World Athletics.”
@twentytwo13news Malaysia Athletics president, Datuk Karim Ibrahim says he is prepared to step down from the association, once the national body’s constitution is amended. More on Twentytwo13. #athletics #malaysia #governance #twentytwo13 ♬ original sound – Twentytwo13
Karim added that he managed to convince all council members to support the alignment with World Athletics and the introduction of the age limit, despite several members being directly affected.
“To ensure there would be no reversal, we asked each council member one by one if they agreed with the decision, and all agreed. That has been minuted,” he said.
There have been calls for Karim to step down over questions surrounding his eligibility to hold office after he was suspended by World Athletics, then known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, in 2018.
The decision was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, Karim has denied claims that he was banned for life.
