Datuk SM Muthu has taken an unusual step to contest for the presidency of Malaysia Athletics (MA) in the June 15 elections.
He has reached out to his ‘rival’, MA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, for help. Muthu, who is the Petaling Athletics Association president, wrote to Shahidan on May 28 seeking support to get the Selangor Athletics Association to nominate him.
Ironically, Shahidan is expected to defend his MA presidency when affiliates vote next month.
Muthu is upset that his successor, Selangor Athletics Association president Nurhayati Karim, rejected a call from six affiliates to nominate him during the state body’s annual general meeting on April 26.
The six affiliates – Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Sepang, Klang and Hulu Selangor – also hand-delivered a memorandum to the Sports Commissioner’s Office on May 20, requesting an emergency general meeting (EGM) to rectify “procedural deficiencies during the April 26 AGM.”
“I have the backing of six Selangor Athletics Association members, which constitutes two-thirds of the nine affiliates. So, why did the president reject my nomination?” asked Muthu.
“Nurhayati also said she would call for another meeting to discuss the matter and the allegations of financial irregularities, but until today, we have not heard anything. Why is she keeping quiet?”
Muthu hopes to get a favourable reply from Shahidan, allowing him to contest in the elections. He added that the six affiliates are also waiting to hear from the Sports Commissioner’s Office regarding their request for an EGM.
Muthu served as the national body’s president from 2019 to 2022, when he ousted Datuk Karim Ibrahim by three votes – 21 to 18 – in the 2019 elections. Three years later, Shahidan defeated Muthu in the 2022 elections by four votes – 20 to 16 – after receiving support from Karim. Nurhayati is Karim’s daughter.
If Muthu succeeds in getting nominated, there could be a four-cornered fight. In addition to Shahidan, MA vice-president Datuk Mark Ling and Karim are reportedly considering entering the race.
