KUALA LUMPUR: Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail has been advised to stop pointing fingers at any party or side following the traditional sport being dropped from the list of core sports.
Sepaktakraw Association of Selangor president (PSS), Datuk Markiman Kobiran, said Ahmad’s accusations that National Sports Council (NSC) officers were plotting with individuals who are against him (Ahmad) as something very surprising.
"I see him blaming just about everyone. The NSC director-general, the sports commissioner’s office, NSC officials … all parties and sides except himself. Who else will be blamed after this?
"(Ahmad) Please stop pointing fingers, if you say you want to work hard towards reinstating sepak takraw as a core sport for the upcoming 2018 Malaysia Games (SUKMA). Why not focus on such a mission instead. We need to accept the fact and return to fight for what right and good for the sport instead of blaming others,” said Markiman.
Yesterday, Ahmad who has been leading PSM since 2003, claimed that he has proof that there are NSC officials who are plotting with certain individuals who want to bring him down.
"If there really is proof then reveal it please, don’t just talk. Is it wrong if people are talking about the sport’s (sepak takraw’s) performance, does it belong to PSM? It belongs to the rakyat.
"For me, NSC officials are part of the tool for evaluating, measuring and ascertaining performance. Let them do their job because it is NSC’s responsibility for every single sen of the rakyat’s money that is spent,” Markiman explained.
"We cannot just take it upon ourselves to pass judgement, let others evaluate or see for themselves. There is no need to claim that we are good and so on, so forth,” he added.
Ahmad’s latest claim has soured already tense relations with NSC after PSM had earlier labelled the national body as unprofessional and guilty of politicking.