Hamdi, now 59 and a successful entrepreneur across several businesses, said the time has come to put the sport ahead of individuals.
“For the sake of Malaysian athletics, the president has to step down,” he said. “He must look beyond self-interest.”
His intervention makes him the second prominent figure to speak out, after Melaka Athletics Association president Fadzil Bakar broke ranks earlier.
Hamdi’s voice carries authority. In 1991, he became the first Malaysian to run sub-52 seconds in 400m hurdles and in his era, Malaysia enjoyed a deep pool of hurdlers.
His duels with Kenny Martin in the 400m hurdles and Nur Herman Majid in the 110m hurdles remain among the most talked-about rivalries in the sport.
Hamdi warned that the current crisis in Malaysia Athletics could spill beyond administration and hit athletes directly.
“I feel sad to see our young athletes caught in this mess through no fault of theirs,” he said. “If this continues, the consequences could be severe.”
The dispute centres on Karim’s eligibility and whether Malaysia Athletics aligns with World Athletics rules.
In 2018, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld findings against Karim over the misuse of athlete allowance funds and his role in advising athletes to avoid doping tests before the 2011 SEA Games.
World Athletics later ruled him ineligible under its integrity framework.
Malaysia Athletics then amended its constitution to introduce a five-year cap on suspensions. The change allowed Karim’s return but triggered a governance clash with the global body.
The federation now faces pressure to resolve the issue and avoid possible sanctions.
“Speak up”
Hamdi urged stakeholders to speak up and take responsibility.
“Problems in sports associations are not new. But we cannot continue to be silent,” he said. “We must be honest, objective and focused on solutions.”
He pointed to deeper structural issues within the federation, including gaps in governance, weak transparency, unclear roles, and what he described as a culture that allows poor decisions to go unchallenged.
Hamdi also raised concerns over athlete management, selection processes, communication breakdowns and the lack of a clear long-term development pathway.
For him, the problem goes beyond one issue or one individual. “This is about rebuilding the system,” he said.
He is now working to form a movement of former elite athletes, coaches and officials to push for reform. The initiative will begin with track and field before expanding to the wider sports landscape.
Hamdi said meaningful change must include stronger governance structures, independent oversight, whistleblower protections and closer cooperation with authorities to address misconduct.
His focus, however, remains firmly on athletes.
“This is about the future of our young athletes,” he said. “We must get this right.”