Home sweet home

RAMLAN: His expertise will be useful at NSI

ANTI-Doping Agency Malaysia (Adamas) chief Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz will return to the National Sports Institute (NSI) as its chief executive officer.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is expected to make the announcement today.

Mailsport was informed that current NSI CEO Ahmad Shapawi Ismail (pic) will be made Sports Commissioner (SC).

“It is a good move by Khairy as Dr Ramlan’s expertise will not go to a waste. With the National Sports Institute Act 2011 in place, Dr Ramlan will be able to do more than he could prior to this,” said a ministry insider.

It remains unclear why Dr Ramlan was ousted from the position last year. Efforts to replace Ramlan started in March 2012, as reported by Mailsport on March 27, 2012, and it went on until he was officially replaced by former National Sports Council (NSC) director of athletes Ahmad Shapawi on Aug 16.

A special position, adviser to the sports minister, was created for Dr Ramlan. He was also made Adamas chief. Many, however, saw the move as a waste of his expertise.

Ahmad Shapawi a breath of fresh air for SCO

The move was expected as Khairy had earlier voiced the need for athletes to fully embrace sports science to churn them into champions.

Ahmad Shapawi, meanwhile, will replace former SC Datuk Yassin Salleh who retired last month.
Ahmad Shapawi was among the six candidates highlighted by Mailsport on May 28 anticipated to be named as Sports Commissioner.

Folks within the Sports Commissioner’s Office (SCO) will be delighted as the office is in dire need of an energetic individual who will be able to enforce the Sports Development Act 1997 effectively.
“Ahmad Shapawi enjoys a cordial relationship with several of the staff within SCO and is aware of the situation faced by national sports associations.

“Nevertheless, he needs to understand that the SCO is not all about elite sports and has a big task of ahead of him in enforcing the Act,” added another source.
Prior to this, the SCO has always been seen as a “retirement home” for former ministry secretary-generals.

Among the former secretary-generals who have occupied the position include the first Sports Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Bakri Shabdin and Yasin’s predecessor Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof.
Ahmad Shapawi’s move to the SCO will also be seen as a promotion. He is currently an S54 grade staff while an SC enjoys a higher pay grade (Jusa).

It, however, remains uncertain if Khairy is set to make any changes within the NSC.


Malay Mail