RISE launched as sporting greats push reform amid athletics crisis

After days of escalating scrutiny and a growing chorus of voices demanding answers, the debate over governance, leadership and accountability found a focal point with the launch of RISE (Reform in Sport and Excellence).

About 50 former Olympians, national athletes, coaches and officials gathered at the Royal Selangor Club in Bukit Kiara, united by a shared concern that the system behind Malaysian sport needs urgent change.

In recent days, the spotlight has fallen sharply on Malaysia Athletics. Questions over leadership eligibility, constitutional amendments and alignment with global rules have dominated the national conversation.

At today’s launch, that concern widened into a clear call for reform, one that now carries consequences beyond administration.

If the standoff with international authorities deepens, athletes risk losing opportunities to compete on the world stage, placing years of preparation in jeopardy.

Five speakers set the tone at today’s event.

Former athletics and cricket international Karu Selvaratnam delivered the most personal message, drawing on a generation that competed with little but pride.

“Something is broken,” he said. “We did not have facilities or funding, but we had trust. We had leadership that put athletes first. Today, that balance feels lost.”

The 400m hurdles great said the culture around athletes must be rebuilt.

“The system must serve the athlete. If we rebuild integrity and trust, performance will follow.”

Former hurdles standout Hamdi Jaafar turned to what comes next, urging a structured approach to reform.

“We cannot stay where we are. Moving forward means making hard decisions, restoring credibility and putting the sport before any individual,” he said.

Hamdi outlined steps to strengthen governance, including independent audits, leadership restructuring, whistleblower protection and closer cooperation with the authorities.

“Reform requires discipline. It must be built, not improvised,” he said.

Former sports commissioner Zaiton Othman placed the crisis within a wider governance framework, pointing to a gap between national systems and international standards.

“When national bodies fail to align with international rules, the consequences fall on athletes,” she said.

The former heptathlete said the current situation in athletics reflects that breakdown.

“When leadership eligibility becomes an issue at the global level, it raises serious questions about how decisions are made and whether governance principles are upheld.”

Zaiton stressed that transparency and accountability must underpin every decision.

“Without trust, no sports system can function,” she said.

Malaysia Olympians Association president Noraseela Khalid closed with a direct appeal for collective responsibility.

“This is the moment to act. Athletes cannot continue to carry the burden of decisions they do not control,” she said.

She called for stronger leadership rooted in experience and credibility, and also urged former athletes to step forward.

“Passion is not enough. We need capable people who understand sport, from grassroots to high performance.

“The former athletes are not just products of the system, they are part of the movement to shape its future,” Noraseela said.

The discussion did not end with the speakers.

Many questions from the floor centred on the Malaysia Athletics crisis, with several participants calling for leadership changes and clearer accountability at the top.

Concerns over athlete welfare, governance standards and international compliance surfaced repeatedly, reflecting deep unease within the sporting community.

Sports grassroots advocate Suhaimi Sun pointed to the importance of development pathways and the role of national bodies in nurturing talent.

“Development cannot depend on isolated efforts. When programmes on the ground show results, the system should support them, not hold them back,” he said.

He stressed that consistent opportunities at junior level remain critical.

“Young athletes need platforms to compete and grow. Without that, we risk losing talent before it reaches its peak.”

Broader alignment across sports

RISE positions itself as a collective voice for reform, with an initial focus on athletics before expanding across other sports.

It will also engage with groups such as the Coalition of Malaysian Hockey Renewal, signalling broader alignment across disciplines.

Today’s take-off marks the first coordinated response by former athletes and officials after sustained public debate over governance issues in athletics, hockey and cricket.

The message from Bukit Kiara was measured but firm.

“This is not about one issue or one person,” Hamdi said. “It is about the system.”

For those present, the moment carried weight beyond symbolism.

It marked a shift from silence to organised pressure, and the beginning of a movement that now faces its next test.

RISE plans to engage stakeholders across sports and work with authorities to push for structural reform, signalling that the launch is not an endpoint, but the start of a sustained effort to reshape Malaysian sport.

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