KUALA LUMPUR: Six Selangor Athletics Association officials, banned for life by the state body, are planning legal action that could also affect Malaysia Athletics.
The six – Datuk SM Muthu, K. Pregash, R. Murugan, G. Mohan, Mohd Fauzi Nanivanan Abdullah, and S. Gunaseelan – were handed lifetime bans by the state body in July after being found guilty of violating several provisions of its constitution.
Muthu (main image), a former president of Selangor and the national body, confirmed that he would meet his lawyers tomorrow to finalise the suit, which, besides challenging the life ban, will also contest the legitimacy of the national body’s AGM last June.
However, Selangor AA president Nurhayati Karim said the six officials had not appealed their bans.
“We assert that the three Selangor AA delegates who attended the AGM did not receive the council’s consent,” said Muthu.
“That should render their participation invalid and nullify the elections.”
This adds to the headache for Malaysia Athletics, following questions over the eligibility of its president, Datuk Karim Ibrahim.
The crisis centres on a letter from World Athletics that was sent to MA in January but only surfaced at a recent executive council meeting.
Several council members alleged World Athletics had stated that Karim is ineligible to hold a post following his suspension by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2018, which deemed him ineligible to hold office as a council member – a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2019.
They, however, were not given a copy of the letter.
“Why are they afraid to share it with the council?” asked an official. “Nothing was resolved, but I can tell you that I have never seen the council so united before. Everyone is shocked that the top management kept the letter quiet for three months.”
Karim has repeatedly rejected claims that he was “banned for life,” describing such assertions as false.
The uncertainty has opened the door to potential legal challenges.
If it is confirmed that the World Athletics letter requires Karim to vacate his position, it could have wider implications beyond the national body, including his standing as president of the Perak Athletics Association.
Such a development would also cast doubt over the validity of the June AGM. If Karim is deemed ineligible, the election result and current leadership structure could be disputed, including whether his predecessor, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, or runner-up Datuk Wira Mark Ling, has a legitimate claim to the presidency.
Karim defeated Ling 25 votes to 14 at the AGM. Shahidan pulled out of the contest hours before the AGM.
For many within MA, the issue now extends beyond Karim’s position.
It has become a test of governance, transparency, and the federation’s willingness to align with international standards.
Sports Commissioner Arrifin Ghani confirmed that discussions are ongoing to determine the legitimacy of Karim’s presidency. He also acknowledged that World Athletics has sent a letter to MA but has yet to see its contents.
