If the Malaysian sport were to be compared to a terminal illness, it would most likely be glioma, a malignant brain tumor that requires a combination of treatments including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

But it appears there is only one cure for cancerous tumors in Malaysian sports, and it is all in the clinical hands of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Because what a cure requires is a strong political will to make sport part of the national agenda. There is no other way.

There are other known treatments for this disease and let’s stop pretending that there is a “healer” who can miraculously transform Malaysian sports into a marketable and successful product.

Believe me, we’ve tried everything over the past few decades. Sports ministers and prime ministers have come and gone, but failure has been the only essential and consistent outcome.

And the last place we should look for a cure is the National Sports Council (NSC). Tragically, this is where failure took root decades ago and quickly spread through the sports fraternity like a malignant tumor.

Sports administrators of the caliber of Siddiq Melican, Wan Ahmad Raji and Mazlan Ahmad (who served as NSC Secretary General from the 70s to the 90s) have become a dying breed, replaced by mediocre leaders. Only one person was appointed.

Unfortunately, this dire situation pervades not only the sporting world, but almost every important aspect of the Malaysian civil service, ruled by incompetent and corrupt administrators who believe it is their birthright to rule. has been done.

Siddiq, Wan Ahmad and Mazlan are not only competitive athletes, but they also had the decency to surround themselves with some of the best minds in sports of all races during their tenures.

Existing systemic racist policies were unable to penetrate the highly meritocratic structures of the time. Mainly because sports were our country’s pride and offering to the world. And it didn’t matter who built it and made it work, as long as the job was done and the country was its beneficiary.

But enough of the frustration and stomachaches. Let’s get down to business, Mr. Prime Minister, about sports.

Sports is big business, a multi-billion ringgit industry. And what Malaysia has so far tapped from it is just a drop in the ocean. The possibilities are vast, including television rights, team sponsorship, merchandising, advertising, sporting goods, ticket sales, and infrastructure.

All these areas combined make sports a major economic sector in most developed and developing countries.

The Prime Minister said that success in sports has fostered a marketable brand and in the face of a shrinking ringgit, declining human rights ratings, an ecosystem unattractive to foreign investment and academic disasters that have brought Malaysia close to crisis. You will definitely find it helpful in getting your confidence back. That fate.

Treatment? The corporatization of sports. Catchphrases are popular in modern society, so you can call us Malaysia Sports Ltd if you like. Anwar is a strong Malay protagonist, so we give him a Malay name.

If you want to compete with the best players in the world, you have to be with the best players. We cannot hope to fly with eagles when we are still flying with turkeys. Unless, of course, we are content to hover above the lower branches and pretend we have reached high altitude. For those with an eagle soul, turkey is just a nice garnish on the Christmas dinner menu.

I don’t have a blueprint for Malaysian Sports, but I know that after failing to reach the heights achieved by Eagles, the success of Malaysian Sports needs to be in the hands of corporate people.

In a corporate sector where success is everything and profits are the focus, failure is not a far-fetched option.

This belief ensures that hiring is done on merit, that strategies are planned with great precision, and that execution of plans is carried out at full throttle. That’s because their survival depends on planning and wise spending.

But for this to happen, two things need to happen. One is that you need instructions from the PM telling the company, especially her GLC, to get in on the game. Second, there must be sufficient incentives, such as large tax breaks, for these companies to consider corporatizing sports. It has to be economically viable.

In Europe and the United States, these huge tax incentives have made the corporate sector enthusiastic about the sports business. For example, the Glazer family, owners of English Premier League club Manchester United, are not in any danger because they offset their investment costs with U.S. tax incentives.

Speaking of soccer, perhaps businessmen like Vincent Tan and Tony Fernandes, who have dabbled in Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers respectively, would invest in the Malaysian Super League if it were economically viable. You may be tempted to do so.

It has been decades since the Malaysian game was granted professional status by the Malaysian FA, but its handlers have struggled to keep up with the growing demand for the professional game. Some clubs were unable to pay salaries to both players and staff.

With the exception of Tunku Mahkota Johor’s JDT and Selangor, who are believed to have access to significant funds, other owners have struggled to keep their clubs in the league. They also have to compete with clubs with deep pockets like JDT, and the lure of high salaries has become a major issue.

But that’s another story.

Today’s topic is not about the NSC, the main funder of national associations, dictating rules, but that Malaysian sport will not improve any further with the existing structure.

The idea is that companies will provide funding and operate the sport, while national associations will be left to the development of their respective sports.

The tumor must be removed and treatment must begin immediately.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.