Dewan Rakyat passes sports bill letting minister declare sports bodies unlawful as MPs raise abuse fears

Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat has passed the Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026, handing the Youth and Sports Minister the power to declare a sports body unlawful and cancel its registration with immediate effect. The bill went through by voice vote on Tuesday, 6 October, a day after Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari tabled it for first reading.

The changes amend the Sports Development Act 1997, the law that governs how national associations and other sports bodies are registered and supervised by the Sports Commissioner. Several MPs from both sides of the House questioned how the new powers could be used, while the minister insisted the safeguards are adequate.

What the amendment does

The centrepiece is a new Section 41A. It allows the minister, after consulting the Sports Commissioner, to declare a sports body unlawful if it is being used for purposes that harm national security, public order or morality. The declaration is gazetted and takes effect immediately, and the body's registration is cancelled.

Once a body is deregistered, its property passes to the Director-General of Insolvency, who winds up its affairs and settles debts. Any surplus can be paid into the Consolidated Fund on the minister's direction. A replacement body can apply to the High Court to take over the assets and liabilities.

The bill also requires sports bodies to get the Commissioner's approval before changing their name, address or constitution, and it allows the minister to make regulations so Malaysia can meet its international obligations on anti-doping and safe sport.

Tougher enforcement and penalties

Ministry officers and police gain powers to record statements, seize documents and apply for search warrants, with that material admissible in court. According to The Star, individuals who fail to hand over account details face a fine of up to RM10,000, up to five years' jail, or both, while unapproved changes to a body's name, address or constitution carry a fine of up to RM5,000. Prosecutions for misuse of funds need the public prosecutor's written consent.

MPs raise concerns over vague terms

The debate was far from one-sided. Malaysiakini reported that Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional MPs questioned whether such a decision should sit so close to political power, and asked how words such as "morality" and "public order" would be defined. Keningau MP Jeffrey Kitingan pointed to the recent controversy over disputed naturalisations involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) when asking what would stop the power being abused. Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, from Pakatan Harapan, also urged that the Commissioner be empowered to act against document forgery.

Taufiq replied that Section 41A has procedural safeguards and that the minister cannot "simply issue an order to deregister a sports body merely because the minister disagrees". He said any action must involve the Commissioner and be tied to existing offences rather than personal discretion.

Langkawi and Para SUKMA raised in the same debate

The session also touched on wider sporting issues. Answering Langkawi MP Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, Taufiq said the island was left out of this year's Le Tour de Langkawi route because of cost-cutting, mainly the expense of transporting the race to the island, and that the ministry hopes to bring Langkawi back in 2027 if the budget allows.

He added that the 12-to-40 age limit for Para SUKMA athletes will be reviewed at the SUKMA Supreme Committee meeting later this year after input from stakeholders.

What happens next

Having cleared the Dewan Rakyat without amendments, the bill now goes to the Dewan Negara before it can receive royal assent and be gazetted. For national associations, the practical message is clear: governance lapses, missing accounts and unapproved constitutional changes now carry heavier consequences.

Key takeaways

• The Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled on 5 October and passed by voice vote on 6 October.
• New Section 41A lets the sports minister declare a sports body unlawful after consulting the Sports Commissioner.
• Deregistered bodies' assets go to the Director-General of Insolvency; officers gain search and seizure powers.
• MPs flagged vague terms such as "morality"; Taufiq said safeguards prevent arbitrary use.
• Langkawi may return to the LTdL route in 2027, and Para SUKMA age limits will be reviewed.

FAQ

Has the bill become law? Not yet. It has passed the Dewan Rakyat and still needs to go through the Dewan Negara and receive royal assent before it is gazetted.

Can the minister ban any sports body he disagrees with? The minister says no. A declaration must follow consultation with the Sports Commissioner and be linked to threats to security, public order or morality, which critics say still need clearer definitions.

Why was Langkawi left out of this year's Le Tour de Langkawi? Taufiq said it was a cost-saving measure, mainly because of transport costs to the island, and that the ministry hopes to restore it in 2027.

Sources: The Star, Malaysiakini, theSun, Bernama