THE National Sports Council (NSC) do not, in any way, meddle in the affairs of national sports associations (NSAs).
This was stated by NSC director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail on Thursday following an "outburst" by the Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF).
MAKAF secretary general Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad, in a press statement, told NSC not to practise favouritism in dispensing funds to sports associations.
MAKAF also took NSC to task for setting a lower salary scale for local coaches as compared to foreign ones.
Azmi had questioned NSC by saying: "MAKAF feel NSC are more focused towards glamour sports. As holder of sports budget to be dispensed to associations, NSC should listen to our plans and input and not decide matters on their own.
"If this is the case, then NSC should also administer sports associations. If a meeting is held but the parent bodies' recommendations are not taken into account, it's better not to meet at all.
"Why foreign coaches can be paid much higher? Just look at the glamour sports which receive a bigger budget to pay their coaches, what is their coaches' specialty?"
However, the NSC have denied all the allegations by the karate federation.
Shapawi responded by citing examples of how MAKAF handled their own affairs with no meddling by the NSC.
"MAKAF alleged that NSC practises favouritism, and said our decisions on coaches are not inline with the planning and needs of MAKAF's, including the number of coaches and their salary scale which is not the same as received by other associations.
"NSC would like to state here that these MAKAF statements are far from the truth.
"NSC would like to state that MAKAF's decision to terminate Iranian coach Ali Reza's contract, who was their own choice, was because of MAKAF's internal problems.
"The coach was changed and NSC agreed with MAKAF's decision. MAKAF then suggested that R. Puvaneswaran, who was a coach with MAKAF earlier but had been dismissed by the association, as Ali's replacement after he ended his contract in Thailand.
"NSC agreed with MAKAF in this matter as well.
"And then when MAKAF decided to close down their KATA training centre in Penang and move it to Bukit Jalil, even though the earlier centre had produced many medal-winning athletes for the nation, NSC yet again agreed with the parent body.
"NSC also agreed with MAKAF when they terminated the services of local coach Lim Lee Lee, who was running the KATA show in Penang.
"NSC also agreed in a meeting with MAKAF on Jan 21 this year that three coaches will handle the national, as well as back-up athletes, at the Bukit Jalil Centre which only has 16 trainees (seven seniors and nine back-up) at the moment.
"However, on Wednesday MAKAF in a programme committee meeting, said they need another coach to run a development programme through their own academy. NSC felt that it's too early as more back-up athletes have yet to be selected because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Of course NSC agree with decisions taken by MAKAF who is tasked with developing the sport in Malaysia.
"But there are limitations in setting, and increasing the salary scale which comes under the National Coaching Certification which is uniform for all sports to be fair, and MAKAF know this well.
"NSC welcome any extra initiatives that can be provided by MAKAF for their coaches as practised by other associations who have their own capabilities to do so.
"We respect the karate parent body's suggestions and we will have another meeting with the MAKAF Working Committee either at the end of March or early April," said Shapawi.