PETALING JAYA: Leave athletes alone and respect their choices of sports outfits, says Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman. The Minister came to the defence of athletes after it was decreed that Terengganu's athletes should wear shariah-compliant clothes starting from 2019 following a directive by the PAS-led Terengganu state government. Dictating what athletes should wear is alarming as the future of sports like gymnastics, diving, swimming, bodybuilding will be affected, said the Minister. These were sports that Malaysia had excelled in, with multiple medals won at international sporting events such as the Commonwealth, Olympics, Asian and SEA Games, said Syed Saddiq. Syed Saddiq said professional track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, a well-known world champion from Terengganu also achieved international recognition regardless of his choice of outfit.

Source: thestar November 26, 2018 13:41 UTC