Gerald Rentap Jabu
KUCHING: Many supporters of weightlifting have voiced their disappointment over the National Sports Council’s decision to drop weightlifting in the 19th Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) in Perak next year.
On Wednesday, Sarawak Weightlifting Association president Gerald Rentap Jabu’s was latest sports leader to object to the controversial decision made recently by the Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin.
“The State government has long made preparations for Sukma involving many training centres statewide including athletes, coaches and technical officials.
“This also involves the planning and costs we made together with the Sarawak State Sports Council,” he said.
Gerald, who is Layar assemblyman, described the action to drop weightlifting as an event in Perak Sukma because of doping by national athletes as unfair.
“The national athletes are under MSN and it is MSN who should be responsible.
“We at the state level are serious about anti-doping and we invited the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (ADAMAS) to our championships,” he added.
Gerald said the Weightlifting Association of Malaysia will not keep quiet in this matter and will make a joint appeal with its state affiliates to urge NSC to withdraw the decision.
According to him, the future of weightlifting will be known after the national body holds a meeting over the matter.
“I will discuss with Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim (Rahman Hamzah) and MSNS to get the view and direction for the state weightlifting.
“Many factors such as athletes, coaches and long-term planning will be taken into consideration,” he added.
Apart from weightlifting, taekwondo and sepak takraw were the other two sports dropped as core sports by NSC.