THE Malaysian Sports Council (MSC) today slammed national athlete Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin over his criticism of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, whom he accused of neglecting athletes like himself. 

MSC director Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said Irfan’s accusations made on his Instagram against the youth and sports minister were false and baseless.

Irfan had, in a posting last night, accused the ministry, MSC and the Malaysian Athletics Association (KOM) of terminating his personal coach, Frantisek Petrovic’s, contract.

“The decision not to offer Petrovic a new contract was made with the Malaysian Olympic Council and Malaysian Athletics Association during the Athlete and Coach Selecting Committee in December,” Shapawi said in a statement today.

“In addition, it was upon Irfan’s request as he has been under the same coach for too long.

“But, as he did not want to disappoint the coach, Irfan had asked MSC to make the decision.” 

According to Shapawi, Irfan had himself gone to Europe in November in search of a new coach.

“If he disagrees with the MSC, then why did he go to Europe using his own money to look for a new coach?” Shapawi added.

It is believed the MSC had suggested Irfan be trained by Gu Yuan, a coach from China, along with other discus throwing athletes, but Irfan had refused. 

On January 7, Irfan had requested to be allowed to train in the Czech Republic with a 64-year-old coach, Imrich Bugar, as well as undertake another training stint in Turkey over 85 days.

Irfan had also called agencies under the ministry unprofessional after rejecting his request to pay for his training in Prague and Antalya in Turkey.

“(They could not produce a) specific programme in terms of training, coaching, sports science or medical sports and there was no official letter from Prague or Turkey saying they had agreed to take Irfan on or any mention of fees in the request forwarded by Irfan to us,” Shapawi said.

“What we got was only a piece of paper about the funds needed and a brief curriculum vitae of Imrich Bugar.”

Meanwhile, KOM president Karim Ibrahim said in a statement that he was disappointed with Irfan and hoped he would remain patient.

“KOM would like to apologise and we take full responsibilities for Irfan’s behaviour,” Karim said.

“We hope that Irfan will retract all of his accusations and set a new discussion with KOM to review his plan with the working committee,” Karim said. – January 17, 2019.