The Terengganu Amateur Swimming Association (PRAT) has publicly apologized for sending a Muslim female diver to the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak without securing prior approval from the Terengganu State Government. The incident has sparked controversy, leading to PRAT's commitment to preventing similar occurrences in the future.
PRAT President Dato' Toh Chin Yaw took full responsibility for the situation, acknowledging that the decision to send the athlete was made independently by the association, despite prior consultations with the Terengganu State Sports Council. He clarified that the association had misunderstood the dress code requirements, mistakenly believing that the international standards they adhered to would be acceptable for the competition.
The issue gained attention when PRAT's Diving Sports Manager, Foo Wai Choo, admitted that they had received warnings regarding the potential dress code violations when sending Muslim female athletes. This warning, however, was not heeded, resulting in the current controversy.
In response to the backlash, PRAT has pledged to focus on developing and promoting non-Muslim athletes for future competitions to align with the state's guidelines. The association emphasized that their actions were based on a misconception, and they regret the oversight.
Furthermore, Terengganu State Youth, Sports, and NGO Development Committee Chairman, Hishamuddin Abdul Karim, explained that the state government supports the participation of non-Muslim athletes in sports requiring specific dress codes. He assured that such athletes would be included in Terengganu's sports development programs going forward.
Hishamuddin also urged the public not to place the entire blame on PRAT, stressing that the situation resulted from a misunderstanding rather than intentional misconduct. He expressed hope that this incident would serve as a lesson for better coordination between state sports associations and the government in the future.
