KUALA LUMPUR: The Terengganu state government's ruling against the participation of female athletes in certain sports can stifle the growth of national talent, says Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
In a post on her official Facebook account on Wednesday (Aug 28), Yeoh said that she fears such rulings could negatively affect the entire spectrum of the nation's sports development.
She added that she hopes the Terengganu government would fairly reward the female divers who recently won medals at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak with rightful incentives for their contribution to the state team's medal tally.
Yeoh added that all Sukma participants undergo a registration process sanctioned by their respective State Sports Councils.
She then said that the medal-winners will maintain their daily training regime at the Malaysian Sports School under the auspices of the Federal Government.
Yeoh said that their talent would be nurtured in preparation for potential inclusion in national-level programmes.
"National diving technical director Bryan Nickson Lomas has earmarked these divers for consideration to join the national back-up programmes next year, provided they continue to show progress in upcoming tournaments," she said.
This comes after reports surfaced of Terengganu youth and sports committee chairman Hishamuddin Abdul Karim voicing displeasure over the two Muslim girls representing the state in diving at Sukma.
The Tepuh assemblyman had criticised their attire for not adhering to the state sports council’s dress code for Muslim athletes.
Subsequently, the Terengganu Amateur Swimming Association was compelled to apologise for fielding the divers.
In 2018, Terengganu mandated syariah-compliant attire for state athletes and the rule is applicable both locally and at away events.
This was followed in 2022 with the ban on non-syariah-compliant attire in gymnastics prompting several Muslim female gymnasts from Terengganu to end their sports careers.
