PETALING JAYA: Selangor sports officials drawn fire for proposing “Kita Lawan” as the motto for the state’s contingent to Sukma, the Malaysia Games sports tournament next year.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia bluntly said: ““Drop it.”
OCM secretary Sieh Kok Chi, quoted by the Malay Mail, said: “Sports is not about fighting … it is about doing your best and trying harder next time.”
Selangor state sports associations were shown the contingent logo on Friday by Amirudin Shari, Selangor’s executive councillor for sports, at a briefing on the Malaysia Games, held biennially among under-21 contingents from every state.
It bears the slogan “Selangor peneraju kecemerlangan sukan” (Selangor spearheading sports excellence) above an eagle’s head, with “#KitaLawan!” below, the Malay Mail reported.
“#KitaLawan” is the term used by Parti Keadilan Rakyat supporters for the street rallies in Kuala Lumpur every Saturday to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Amirudin insisted the use of the term was “not an issue”, the Malay Mail said, but representatives of Selangor sporting associations were reported to be incensed.
“Sukma is a sporting event for the young. It is not right to associate a political campaign with sports, especially with young athletes,” said one unnamed participant quoted in the report.
OCM secretary Sieh said the motto could be easily manipulated or exploited. “It’s best not to have any insinuations or else another party will counter it with another tagline and this will open the floodgates,” he was quoted as saying.
Former National Sports Council director-general Mazlan Ahmad said: “Sports is a vehicle to unite people. Sports is neutral. The #KitaLawan motto leaves a bad taste.”
National badminton player Lee Chong Wei said: “Don’t do this to the athletes. Sports should be above politics. This should not happen. Athletes should only be representing their state and no one else.”