Act against its president and face a legal challenge — or hold its ground and risk action from World Athletics.
Sources familiar with internal discussions said this dilemma dominated the recent executive council deliberation, exposing deep unease over how the federation should respond to mounting international pressure.
At the centre of the crisis is president Karim Ibrahim, whose eligibility remains in dispute despite his election under Malaysia Athletics’ current constitution.
Council members, sources said, received clear legal guidance: removing Karim is not straightforward.
He won the presidency under rules that were in force at the time. Any attempt to push him out could trigger a court battle, with potential claims of unlawful removal.
That warning has had a chilling effect.
Several members now see the issue not just as a governance problem, but as a legal minefield that could drag the federation into prolonged litigation.
Yet the alternative carries its own risks.
World Athletics has made clear that member federations must enforce its integrity decisions. In Karim’s case, that means barring him from office.
The global body has already asked Malaysia Athletics to state its position and outline how it will bring its constitution in line with international standards.
Sources said the message from abroad was firm: this is not a procedural matter, but one of governance and credibility.
They added the correspondence from World Athletics was first sent in January but only surfaced during Thursday’s council meeting, prompting frustration among some members over the timing.
It is also understood that some council members asked to review the correspondence in detail, but concerns were raised about wider circulation of the documents.
That has sharpened divisions within the council.
Some members believe the federation must move quickly to align with World Athletics to protect Malaysia’s standing in the sport.
Others remain cautious, pointing to the legal exposure and the need to act within the federation’s own constitutional framework.
The result is a leadership caught between competing obligations, with no easy path forward.
The debate has also turned on a key legal question: how long does “ineligibility” last?
Karim has consistently maintained that he was not subject to a lifetime ban, a position that aligns with Malaysia Athletics’ current interpretation of its constitution.
Malaysia Athletics relies on a constitutional clause that limits suspensions to five years.
That provision enabled Karim’s return and election last year.
But World Athletics does not appear to share that interpretation.
Its rules require member federations to bar individuals deemed ineligible under its vetting process, without reference to a fixed time limit imposed at national level.
This gap has become the fault line in the crisis.
Sources said council members acknowledged that the constitution may need to be amended again — this time to bring it into line with international requirements.
But even that step will take time, requiring approval at an extraordinary general meeting and clearance from the sports commissioner.
Time, however, is in short supply.
World Athletics has set a deadline of April 17 for Malaysia Athletics to respond with a clear position and a plan.
That deadline has added urgency to an already fraught situation.
Complicating matters further are concerns over governance and process.
Sources said there was recognition that the handling of the issue must be seen as independent and free from any potential conflicts of interest, given the close personal ties involved at the top of the federation.
Beyond the boardroom, the stakes are rising.
Several council members warned that failure to resolve the issue could have wider consequences, including possible sanctions that may affect Malaysia’s participation in international competitions.
For now, Malaysia Athletics remains in a holding pattern — weighing legal advice, internal divisions and external pressure.
A decision is coming.
But whichever path the council chooses, it will come at a cost.