MALAYSIA’S dragon boat team will not participate in the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines this November due to internal turmoil with the Malaysian Canoe Association (Masca) over the involvement of senior associates as athletes in the biennial sport.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Masca’s troubles started when their president Megat Daniff Shahriman Zaharudin was upset that his name was dropped from the list of athletes for the SEA Games.

Megat Daniff had previously listed himself as a team member but did not meet the qualifications for the SEA Games set by the Malaysian Olympic Council Select Committee (MOM), National Sports Institute (ISN) and the National Sports Council (MSN).

Macsa deputy president Michael Wong said the decision to withdraw the racing team was made by the president without the approval of the association’s executive committee.

“We don’t even know what was the real reason for the withdrawal,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Wong, who is also the manager of the racing team, on Friday filed an appeal on behalf of the Malaysian men’s and women’s dragon boat racing team to be allowed to compete as MOM athletes.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that Wong had previously sent letters to MOM, ISN, MSN and the Youth and Sports Ministry to inform them of the association’s internal issues.

Wong had confirmed a letter was sent on August 19, which was sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

Wong also told The Malaysian Insight that the majority of Masca’s leadership has lost confidence in Megat Daniff to lead the association.

“Nine out of 13 committee members yesterday voted to oust the president. We will send a letter to MOM to inform the decision and let MOM make the decision,” he said.

On Friday, Megat Daniff was reported to have said that their participation will involve huge costs.

He had said in early June that they would join the race to help Malaysia win at least a bronze medal.

Megat Daniff also announced that he would increase his physical fitness and lose weight before the SEA Games began.

In addition to Masca, Megat Daniff had also led the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association after he and his team swept all positions in the association’s election in late June.

He is also competing with former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin for the presidency of the Malaysian Paralympic Council. Elections scheduled for June 29 were postponed after a controversy over candidate eligibility.

Megat Daniff was also reported to have questioned Khairy’s nomination, which he alleged was submitted after the stipulated time frame. – August 27, 2019.