Three individuals – Arrifin Ghani, Jefri Ngadirin and Suhardi Alias – have been earmarked as potential candidates for the National Sports Council (NSC) director-general’s post.
It is understood that the three were interviewed yesterday by a three-member panel comprising Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk K. Nagulendran, at Menara KBS in Putrajaya.
The three names had surfaced as early as 2023, as reported by Twentytwo13 in June that year, when Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail was expected to retire in September. However, instead of appointing a permanent replacement, Ahmad Shapawi’s deputy, Abdul Rashid Yaakub, was named NSC director-general on Nov 1, 2023.
Prior to the interview session, the ministry’s top management met with NSC’s senior officials on Feb 20 to gather their views on who should succeed Abdul Rashid, who is set to retire early next month.
It is understood that many within the NSC have voiced their support for Arrifin. A similar scenario played out during the recent selection of the National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer, where Dr P. Vellapandian received “overwhelming support”. Vellapandian was eventually appointed as NSI’s CEO, effective Feb 25, replacing Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli.
Arrifin, a former hockey international, has spent many years in the NSC. He previously served as the international preparations unit director before being seconded to lead the Melaka State Sports Council in 2019. He returned to the NSC after his Melaka stint ended in April 2020.
On Dec 1, 2020, he was appointed deputy sports commissioner before returning to the NSC as its deputy director-general.
Jefri, the youngest of the three, has been a prominent figure in the NSC in recent years. He, along with Suhardi and Abdul Rashid, worked closely with Yeoh and her team, particularly after Ahmad Shapawi suffered a stroke just days before the 2023 SEA Games.
Suhardi, meanwhile, was one of two NSC deputy director-generals before being appointed Sports Commissioner in August 2023.
Ahmad Shapawi was last week appointed National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) chairman.
