Sea Games: NSA president, former athlete among candidates for deputy CDM

KELANA JAYA: A former athlete and a president of a national sports association are among the candidates to fill the post of Deputy Chef de Mission for the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, which is scheduled to take place from Nov 21 to Dec 2.

Malaysia's Chef de Mission (CDM) Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said he was identifying several individuals who meet the criteria set and that the selection would be made after Aidilfitri in May.

He acknowledged that some former athletes have credibility as leaders and thus can become icons to encourage athletes to achieve success at the bi-annual Games.

"Actually, I have interviewed several people, I have to make the right choice and not be in a hurry because now there is not much work that is important.

"Only after Aidilfitri we will have a secretariat meeting and team managers meeting every month, so Insya Allah (God willing) after Raya (Aidilfitri), I will announce the Deputy CDM," he told reporters after the launch of the SupaRimau Football League at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya on Tuesday.

He explained that he would consult Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican before finalising the selection.

At the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, the president (then secretary-general) of the National Silat Federation of Malaysia (Pesaka) Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin took on the responsibility as CDM while National Sports Institute(ISN) chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli was Deputy CDM and former Malaysian swimming queen Nurul Huda Abdullah Deputy CDM II.

In a separate development, Hamidin, who is Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, described the first five matches of the Malaysia League (M-League) as having went well, despite several incidents involving referees and 'football violence' committed by players.

He said that he had instructed FAM Referees Committee chairman Datuk S. Sivasundaram to hold regular meetings with local referees to find out the problems faced and then find solutions to improve the quality of refereeing.

"There are some things that he (Sivasundaram) suggested, I straightaway gave the green light. FAM backs the referees committee and is very sensitive about these issues and is committed to giving its best," he added.

-- BERNAMA