Malaysia is not fully ready to become a sporting nation because it has yet to produce world-class athletes, said Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

According to Bernama , he said it was not enough for Malaysia to be just a good event organiser.

"We certainly are a good sports organiser," he said quoting Malaysia's successful organising of Formula o­ne as an example.

Consistency

"But what is more important is that our athletes must be consistent and achieve greater excellence at the international level," he said in his speech at the Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM) Excellence Award night in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The Excellent Male Athlete and Excellent Female Athlete awards for 2002 went to national swimming champion Lim Keng Liat and karate-do champion S Premila.

National rally driver and navigator Karamjit Singh and Allen Oh received the Special Award while local historian Khoo Kay Kim received the Golden Pen special award.

Abdullah said several years ago, he had asked the International Olympic Council (IOC) chairperson Juan Samaranch o­n Malaysia's ability to host the Olympics.

"He told me that Malaysia was capable of becoming the best Olympics organiser but what is more important is to churn out world-class athletes beforehand."

Bickering

Abdullah also criticised local sports associations that were more involved in quarrelling with each other to grab positions at the expense of the welfare and future of their athletes.

He said sports fans in the country should also give an opportunity to national athletes to prove their capabilities.

"But the athletes must also be consistent. Don't win just o­ne competition and then lose subsequent matches easily."

He praised the efforts by SAM to hold the awards presentation in recognition of the best athletes based o­n the sports writers' point of view.