PASC swimmers in a photo call with Asas president Datuk Wee Hong Seng (second row, centre) after emerging as overall champion at the Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai Inter-Club Swimming Championship last December. The club says these are the very same swimmers who had submitted their entries through LASA for the upcoming SAG 2019.
KUCHING: A swimming club has slammed the Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) for using “unscrupulous tactics” which it said has prevented 120 swimmers from competing in next weekend’s state age-group championship (SAG).
According to a press statement by the Power Aquatic Swimming Club (PASC), Asas rejected the Limbang Amateur Swimming Association (LASA) submission entry because of the new rule (Rule No 1 c. ‘under eligibility’) set by Asas which states ‘At least 50 per cent of the swimmers representing their respective Divisional Affiliates in SAG 2019 must be residents of that Division. Residence means the Division (in Sarawak) where the swimmer “lives and sleeps” and where he/she can be found in the majority of days of the year.”
This “unreasonable” restriction, the club contends, hinders the development of young swimmers in the State.
PASC coach Voon Yong Hui said this has affected more than 120 swimmers including some from the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) elite squad.
“During the 45th Sarawak Age Group Swimming Championship held in Miri last year, we (PASC) also affiliated to LASA emerged as the overall champion.
“So why is it that this year we are not allowed to compete? Instead of creating unreasonable rules, ASAS should focus more on sportsmanship and the State Government’s vision that enables the State to become one of the sports powerhouses in the country.
While PASC conceded that Asas have the absolute right to set rules and regulations it questions whether this restriction is necessary and beneficial to sports development. Young swimmers, it argues, are the victims at the end of the day.
“These athletes have been training hard and we have a handful of potential swimmers (Sukma and SEA Age group) that are eligible to qualify for National Age Group and International competitions.
“SAG will be their gateway to their future goal. Please do not victimise them because they are not illegal immigrants nor individuals who have broken the law. They just want to swim,” Voon insisted.
PASC is now appealing to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports as well as Sarawak Sports Council to help address the problem for the sake of the development of swimming in Sarawak.
On another matter, Voon asked whether it is still justifiable for Sarawak to have sports organised based on inter-division competitions.
He said inter-division sport competitions are not relevant, appropriate and fair any more as such an arrangement is a severe disadvantage to the small divisions.
PASC pointed to a big city having all the best facilities, best coaches and bigger pool of potential athletes while a small township has lower standards and very limited resources.
The statement suggested that swimming competitions should instead be organised on the basis of clubs.
It again called on the State government to look into this “outdated characteristic” of swimming competitions.
Noting that in West Malaysia swimming competitions are held at club level, Voon said Sarawak is now the only state in Malaysia still having competitions based on geographical divisions.