Education Ministry makes Safe Sport certification compulsory for Malaysian School Sports Council championship
Officials involved in the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) Championship must undergo the Safe Sport Code training this year.
In announcing this, the Education Ministry’s deputy director-general (school operations), Azman Adnan, said the ministry is taking steps to prevent any untoward incidents, as there were cases involving sexual harassment and assault, in the past.
Azman said the Education Ministry will work with the Youth and Sports Ministry, and the National Sports Institute to conduct these courses.
“We need to give the athletes a safe space to practice sports, so they can achieve the best results,” said Azman.
“They should not worry about being sexually harassed, groomed, bullied, or be physically, or mentally abused.
“We must take action to prevent this from happening.”
One of the more recent cases involved a teacher in Kuala Lumpur who taught in his school’s badminton team. It is understood that several 13- and 14-year-olds were alleged to have been sexually assaulted by the teacher.
When contacted in September, the ministry’s sports, co-curricular and arts division director, Zainuren Mohd Nor, told Twentytwo13 that the matter was under police investigation.
When asked about the progress of the probe, Azman, who launched the MSSM calendar at SJKC Yuk Chai in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, yesterday, replied: “It is still under investigation”.
“That is one of the reasons why we are taking steps to raise awareness about Safe Sport.
“All those involved in the MSSM must sit for the course, and get the certification. Only then will they be allowed to be part of the championship.”
He added that the ministry was working on a child protection manual for sports and arts activities.
“We need a safe space where there is respect and understanding. The manual will provide the necessary guidelines on how to proceed with this,” said Azman.
Former Youth and Sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu was to have presented the first draft of the Safe Sport Bill in December 2022, but lost his seat in the Malaysian General Election a month earlier.
Hannah Yeoh, who took over the portfolio, initially said she would continue to push for the Act, but decided against tabling it last February. She opted for the Safe Sport Code, another initiative carried out during Ahmad Faizal’s time in office.
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