The PAS-led state government of Terengganu has decided that they will not be participating in the women’s gymnastics event in the Malaysian Games 2024, or the Sukma Games due to the issue of non-syariah compliance outfits.
Terengganu Youth, Sports, and NGO chairperson Hishamuddin Abdul Karim commented that the sport requires athletes to wear tight outfits that reveal the body's shape. According to Harakah Daily, he said, “For the time being we will not continue (with the sport of gymnastics). We will not compromise in this matter and this opinion should be respected.”
The Sukma Games is a biennial national multi-sport event involving young athletes with a ‘Mini Olympic Sports’ concept.
"We bring a shariah-friendly approach to make changes and the process is necessary to education and awareness to athletes,” he continued. Hishamuddin commented that they were using a prudent approach because the complete enforcement of syariah-compliant outfits among athletes was difficult.
“We are using a syariah-compliant approach as a step towards change and that process is necessary to educate and bring awareness to all athletes. We are not taking a straightforward approach to enforcing the rule. Now it is more towards educating, giving a suitable time for the approach we are exploring.”
Hishamuddin also mentioned that the body is also working on other sports segments including cycling that are not yet syariah-compliant because the attire required for the sport is due to safety issues. He said that they were tied to the laws of the Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events.
Back in 2020, Terengganu’s female gymnasts were also barred from the competition because of their revealing attire and “indecent moves.”
Image credit: facebook.com/MalaysianGymnasticsFederation/