By Amanda L
KUCHING, Sept 28: Malaysia should win football matches “in an honourable way” rather than relying on naturalised foreign players to boost national team results, says Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the Sarawak National Sports Integrity Conference 2026 at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here today, he warned that compromising integrity in pursuit of short-term sporting success risks exposing the nation to international embarrassment.
“If we want to win, we should win in an honourable way. We should not bring in people from elsewhere and change their nationality just so they can represent Malaysia.
“Imagine how embarrassing that looks to the outside world,” he said.
Abdul Karim emphasised that integrity must permeate every level of sports, extending from athletes and officials to tournament organisers and infrastructure development.
He noted that systemic unfairness—whether through match-fixing, doping, or administrative corruption—devastates athletes who dedicate years to training.
“Any sportsman would feel deeply frustrated if, after all their hard work, they feel cheated at the final lap,” he said.
Furthermore, he warned that compromised results severely damage public trust in sports.
“The moment spectators feel a result is unjust—that the rightful winner was denied—public confidence simply erodes,” he said, adding that corruption or ‘under-the-table’ dealings in sports facility construction similarly undermine the industry’s credibility.
Commending the event, the minister highlighted that a dedicated conference on sports integrity is a rare and essential initiative, particularly as Sarawak prepares to host the SEA Games next year.
“I view this as a crucial step in ensuring the upcoming SEA Games are conducted in a completely integrated and transparent environment, from grassroots preparations to the top leadership and the competing athletes,” he said.
The Sarawak National Sports Integrity Conference 2026 is organised by the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) in the Premier’s Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). — DayakDaily
