It said constitutional amendments linked to Karim Ibrahim’s return as president have raised serious questions over the legitimacy of elections, appointments and governance decisions made since last year.
FTAA president V Pulainthiran said the matter could no longer be treated as an internal administrative dispute.
“The sport needs transparency and proper governance,” he said.
“When constitutional amendments become disputed at international level, confidence in the system is affected.”
At the centre of the dispute are amendments passed during last year’s Malaysia Athletics annual general meeting.
FTAA said the amendments appeared inconsistent with rules set by World Athletics.
It also questioned whether the changes were introduced to benefit individuals previously ruled ineligible from holding office.
Karim had earlier been declared ineligible by the World Athletics Vetting Panel. The ruling was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FTAA said that history now places the amendments under greater scrutiny.
Pulainthiran said the central issue was straightforward.
“If the constitution now needs further revision to comply with World Athletics requirements, then naturally people will ask why those earlier amendments were passed in the first place,” he said.
He added that the federation must now answer whether those decisions met acceptable governance standards.
Karim’s leave move raises new questions
Karim recently announced that he would go on leave while Malaysia Athletics revises its constitution to align with World Athletics requirements.
He also said he would relinquish the presidency once the revised constitution receives approval from the sports commissioner’s office and World Athletics.
FTAA questioned the legal basis of the arrangement.
“Under which provision can a president go on leave while still holding office?” Pulainthiran asked.
He said resignation, rather than leave, would normally apply if eligibility remained under dispute.
FTAA also questioned whether decisions made under the current administration remain valid if key eligibility issues are unresolved.
It said elections conducted under a constitutional framework now under dispute could also face legal challenge if the amendments are ultimately found to be unlawful.
“People inside the system must understand that governance must be clean and clear,” Pulainthiran said. “Otherwise, every decision becomes questionable.”
Affiliation delay adds to dispute
FTAA also highlighted the unresolved status of its affiliation application to Malaysia Athletics.
The association said it completed a merger involving Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan before submitting its application.
Its constitution received approval from the sports commissioner’s office in July 2025.
FTAA said it has yet to receive a formal response from the national body.
“We want to know the status, timeline and criteria being applied. Fair representation must guide the process.”
The unresolved affiliation issue has added another layer to tensions within Malaysian athletics.
Concerns over undisclosed correspondence
FTAA also raised concerns over allegations that correspondence from World Athletics was withheld from the full council for several months.
The issue first surfaced through FMT reports and later through leaked recordings of a Malaysia Athletics council meeting.
Several affiliates later questioned why the documents were not circulated despite repeated requests.
The correspondence related to eligibility concerns and instructions to align the constitution with World Athletics standards.
FTAA said failure to disclose such information could undermine confidence in the federation’s decision-making process.
“The council must receive full information to perform its duties,” Pulainthiran said.
“Without that, trust in decisions made during that period becomes difficult to maintain.”
He said the matter requires an independent investigation.
Family links
FTAA also pointed to possible conflict of interest concerns involving family links within the administration.
Karim’s daughter, Nurhayati, serves as secretary-general of Malaysia Athletics.
The association said governance structures must not only comply with rules, but also be seen as independent.
“Even if processes are lawful, they must also be seen to be free from influence,” Pulainthiran said.
He said this principle was critical to restoring confidence in the federation.
Athletes must not suffer
FTAA said the governance dispute must not distract from athlete development.
Pulainthiran warned that prolonged uncertainty could affect grassroots programmes, athlete pathways and long-term planning.
He said young athletes continue to train and compete while the dispute unfolds at administrative level.
“These athletes have nothing to do with internal disputes,” he said.
“But they are the ones who suffer when instability continues.”
He warned that prolonged uncertainty could also expose Malaysian athletics to possible sanctions from World Athletics.
Young athletes competed in race walk events across the country over the weekend as coaches and organisers continued grassroots development efforts despite the uncertainty surrounding the national federation.
Call for independent inquiry
FTAA has called for an independent inquiry into the matter.
It urged the sports commissioner’s office, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the youth and sports ministry to intervene.
Pulainthiran said the objective was not confrontation, but restoring confidence in the sport.
“We are not trying to prolong division,” he said. “We are trying to repair the foundation before more damage is done.”
He added that Malaysian athletics must move forward on stronger governance footing.
“If World Athletics was right all along, then serious reflection is needed on how we got here,” he said.
“What matters now is ensuring the sport moves forward with credibility, transparency and stability.”