Coach wants action against pervasive racism in sports

The sidelining of non-Malays from participating in sports is becoming prevalent and requires stern action to nip it in the bud.

Football coach B Sathianathan (above) said he has often heard non-Malay parents grumbling about the issue since he took up the profession.

“Since 10 to 15 years ago, I have been getting complaints from parents, usually ethnic Indians or Chinese, saying their children are being sidelined from joining football teams.

“Most of them would say that teachers only picked Malay students to join the team, even though their own children have talent and potential,” Sathianathan told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The former coach for the national squad said this in response to an incident where a teacher was accused of telling a Form Three student to convert to Islam by claiming that being a Muslim would boost his chances of becoming a national football player.

The student's mother, who only wants to be known as “Vasan”, also claimed a classmate told her 15-year-old son that “only Muslims are allowed in the stadium in Malaysia”.

The student’s parents have lodged a police report, and the police confirmed an investigation is underway.

The Education Ministry has also launched an investigation and vowed it would not compromise on school management, especially on matters that could threaten racial and religious harmony.

‘Such cases would not occur if…’

Sathianathan said that such cases would not occur if all parties fully understood the Rukun Negara principles.

These incidents are shaping public perception and affecting non-Malay parents, he said. This can devastate the country’s sports industry since it can’t fully cultivate talent, regardless of racial background.

“Such issues did not occur during my childhood. This can be seen in the national hockey team of the past, which was led by various races. There was even more non-Malay participation.

“But now this is no longer the case because such incidents affect parents. So, they believe there is no need to involve their children in sports because there are no prospects for the future. How can a teacher so brazenly touch on racial and religious sensitivities?" he said.

Sathianathan added that investigations and actions that “merely exist on paper” would not suffice if the allegations are true.

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