This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali, who received Khairi’s letter last Thursday.

“I can confirm that the letter from Khairi has been forwarded to the minister (Syed Saddiq Syed Abd Rahman) and a copy of the letter is with me. A decision will be made at the ministerial level and KBS in due time.

“As you all know, he has asked for his contract period to end on Nov 30,” Lokman said when met at the closing of the national-level KBS-Nusa Mahsuri Badminton Talent Camp here today.

He said the reason given by Khairi was that he wanted to go back to his previous job in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

“It has nothing to do with the consolidation of the NSI and the National Sports Council (NSC) or the running of NSI and its programmes,” he said.

Asked who will replace Khairi, Lokman said the ministry was looking for someone who could raise the profile of sports science to support the development of athletes in the country.

“We will choose the most qualified person, be it a local or a foreigner. We are looking for someone based on merit and if there is a local who is qualified, we will go local.”