KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Athletic Federation (MAF) president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has proposed establishing a specialised sports university in Malaysia to serve as a platform for athletes from secondary school to further their education to higher levels.
This was one of the agendas discussed by the MAF during their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, where Shahidan’s proposal received support from state affiliates.
In a short clip shared via MAF’s social media page, Shahidan explained that the idea to establish this university is not limited to athletes from athletics alone but also involves all types of sports.
It would simultaneously serve as a gathering place for the country’s top young athletes, enabling them to continue pursuing their dreams in sports while also focusing on their academics.
“It’s time we establish a dedicated sports university. We have sports schools, but the follow-up from these schools is only to existing universities with sports departments.
“I believe it’s time for us to have a specialised sports university. This is something we need to give attention to. While we want high-performing athletes, we also need to consolidate the athletes who are currently scattered after they finish Form 5.
“Not just for athletics, but for all sports. Now, when I suggest athletics, you should remember that I am also the president of the swimming association. I want the sports university to include swimming athletes and other sports such as badminton, with facilities like a track, a large stadium for football, and facilities for athletics,” said Shahidan.
At the same time, he said he believed that establishing a dedicated sports university will be one of the solutions to address the shortage of developmental athletes faced by many sports in Malaysia.
Currently, Malaysia has five sports schools: Bukit Jalil Sports School, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School, Pahang Sports School, Sabah Sports School, and Terengganu Sports School.
At the university level, while Malaysia does not yet have a dedicated institution specifically for sports athletes, several higher education institutions offer places to outstanding national athletes.
This includes Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Mara, and the most renowned, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Shahidan will next bring this proposal to the attention of Youth and Sports Ministry Hannah Yeoh and the Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Kadir. – July 30, 2024