Opposition youth leaders question Sports Ministry's 'political appointments'
Ikatan Youth chief Shahir Adnan has accused Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of attempting to use political appointments to curry favour ahead of party elections.
This came after the ministry appointed 13 Bersatu Youth members as state sports development coordinators – one for each state except Sarawak...
Ikatan Youth chief Shahir Adnan has accused Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of attempting to use political appointments to curry favour ahead of party elections.
This came after the ministry appointed 13 Bersatu Youth members as state sports development coordinators – one for each state except Sarawak.
Shahir said this would not aid the nation’s development in sports.
“We believe that these political appointments have been made at a time when Bersatu is about to hold party elections, and Syed Saddiq wants to garner support from state grassroots members.
“When political appointments are made, the focus of appointees is to retain their political office and orientate themselves to the Bersatu Youth leader, not the nation’s sporting glory,” he said in a statement today.
Sharir also questioned the process of appointing the officers.
“How was the appointment process made and what were their qualifications? Where is the transparency that Pakatan Harapan promised ahead of the 14th general election?” he said.
“As long as politics is mixed with sports, sports in this country cannot progress,” he added.
Echoing Sharir was MIC Youth secretary Theeagesh Ganesan, who condemned the appointments.
“This clearly shows Syed Saddiq’s strategy in strengthening his party amongst the youths, where the state sports development coordinators appointed would surely influence youth and sports associations with their political agenda,” he said.
“It’s not impossible for Syed Saddiq to claim that the appointments were beyond his knowledge or were not political appointments at all.
“This shows that the government of the day no longer hides its political appointments and blatantly appoints cronies to government positions,” he added.
Theeagesh also expressed concern that political interference in the management of youth and sports organisations would affect youths' performance and achievements.
This would make youths victims of government politicians’ greed, he said.
Since yesterday, a letter purportedly from the Youth and Sports Ministry had been circulated on social media platforms, announcing the appointment of the 13 coordinators.
The letter, dated Aug 19, said the officers are charged with coordinating programmes to develop sports in their respective states, with a focus on Paralympic sports. They were to report for duty at their respective offices on Aug 21.
When contacted, DAP Youth chief Howard Lee said he did not receive any letter regarding the appointments.
“The appointments were not discussed with Pakatan Harapan Youth since it is a ministerial appointment and not a party appointment,” he told Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini has been attempting to contact Syed Saddiq for comment since yesterday and is still waiting for a response.
In addition, PKR and Amanah Youth leaders were also contacted for comment.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Steven Sim had defended the appointments, saying that it follows existing civil service procedures.
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