The words ‘political challenges’ and ‘Road to Gold (RTG)’ were used in the same sentence — an unfortunate way to describe Malaysia’s elite sports scene, which seems to hinge on Putrajaya’s buy-in for something its administrators neither exclusively own nor govern.
Yet, that was the justification given for Tan Sri Norza Zakaria’s “demotion” in the RTG — a glorified “top-up service” aimed at ending Malaysia’s Olympic gold medal drought since its first foray in the 1956 Games as Malaya. Norza was previously the co-chair, alongside Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. Now, he is the deputy chair.
Explaining Norza’s new position, Yeoh was quoted as saying: “This move ensures that the RTG programme remains uninterrupted in the face of political challenges. If a ministerial vacancy arises due to political circumstances, the deputy chairman will take the lead and ensure RTG meetings proceed without disruption.”
Perhaps Yeoh is simply being cautious, given the chatter about a possible Cabinet reshuffle following her party, DAP’s, Central Executive Committee election on March 16. After all, she secured the 15th spot with 2,169 votes, finishing last among the DAP ministers in the Cabinet.
To eliminate political uncertainty, wouldn’t it be better for a civil servant — either the ministry’s secretary-general or the National Sports Council (NSC) director-general — to head the RTG, alongside a representative from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)?
Apparently, OCM had wanted out as co-chair. Perhaps the co-chair model wasn’t working. OCM initially saw its participation in an elite programme as an opportunity to rebrand itself — not just as a glorified tour agent but as an entity that could channel substantial funds to athletes and associations. However, that vision never materialised, and OCM seemed to play a rubber-stamp role in the RTG instead.
As for the government, it now has all the necessary stakeholders in place and will no longer have to bear sole responsibility if RTG fails — again. Well played.
Besides Norza’s new role, the RTG committee now includes Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz and long-time swimming administrator Mae Chen. Dr Ramlan was already serving as a technical assistant to RTG coordinator, Datuk Stuart Michael Ramalingam.
So, what were Dr Ramlan’s contributions in his previous role? How different will his responsibilities be this time? More importantly, will the decision-makers actually listen to his insights? Dr Ramlan, after all, once served as NSC director-general and as chief executive officer of the National Sports Institute.
Perhaps RTG should start by allowing Dr Ramlan to make public the findings of the Podium Programme Enhancement Committee, which he led. The report was submitted to the ministry in 2020. Lessons from the past should be reviewed before introducing “new” initiatives.
What has RTG actually achieved?
After two years, what have we really learnt from RTG? What challenges exist within the elite sports ecosystem? Why can’t the so-called “top-up service” be integrated into existing elite programmes?
If bureaucracy is preventing athletes from getting something as basic as a proper mattress or decent accommodation, wouldn’t it be better to address those issues within the existing system rather than creating parallel structures?
And let’s not forget RTG’s commercialisation aspect.
How much has RTG raised in cash (not in-kind) since 2023? Should another entity — leveraging the minister’s office — be allowed to approach private companies for funding when NSC is already doing so? This is on top of the millions in taxpayers’ money NSC receives, and the annual contributions from Berjaya Sports Toto.
While sports is an expensive affair, perhaps it’s time to revive Rakan Sukan. Launched in 1994, the programme saw 28 corporations signing memoranda of understanding with 27 sports associations, each receiving an average of RM1 million annually.
It eventually fizzled out due to sports associations failing to deliver returns on investment. If such initiatives are to be revived, associations must be held accountable. Funding — whether from taxpayers or corporations — is not their birthright.
Two years on, and with the failure to secure an Olympic gold, RTG must be assessed honestly — is it truly necessary, or is it just a vehicle to cement certain individuals’ legacies?
What about other sports that may lack popularity but have the potential for international success? How do performing athletes feel about constantly having to fight for spots in RTG or elite programmes, while football — a sport that still struggles at the regional level — continues to receive both funding and attention?
To ignore these questions would be naive. The repercussions of these decisions will be felt in Malaysian sports for years, if not decades, to come.
