KUALA LUMPUR — Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin has cautioned sports officials against rushing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), warning that those who have acted improperly risk public embarrassment before an international judicial body.
Megat made the remarks during a recent episode of the Julang podcast, where he was asked about his personal experience with international sports arbitration and the advice he would offer to officials considering legal challenges.
The PCM chief drew from his own prolonged legal battle involving the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) — a case that escalated to the international level after domestic avenues failed to provide relief.
In 2020, while serving as president of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA), Megat was handed an 18-month suspension from all hockey-related activities by the MHC disciplinary committee for alleged breaches of the Malaysian Hockey League’s code of conduct.
After exhausting internal appeal mechanisms, he brought the case before the Judicial Commission of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), before it eventually reached CAS.
In June 2023, the FIH Judicial Commission upheld Megat’s appeal, overturned the additional 12-month extension of his suspension, and criticised MHC’s handling of the disciplinary process.
A panel acting on the CAS ruling also ordered MHC to bear the full cost of proceedings, amounting to 13,500 Swiss Francs (approximately RM68,960) and to pay Megat 6,000 Swiss Francs (around RM30,600) as a contribution towards his legal expenses.
Speaking on the podcast, Megat said the experience underscored a critical lesson.
“Going to CAS isn’t like dealing with a local matter in Malaysia. If you’ve done something wrong, or if you’ve misrepresented the facts, don’t even think about going,” he said.
“International sports tribunals won’t tolerate weak arguments or attempts to twist the truth.
“I’ve been to CAS myself, and I won. Check it online if you like,” he added.
“Success in international arbitration requires solid evidence and strict adherence to procedure. You simply cannot lie there.”
When the podcast host raised the ongoing case involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), which is awaiting a CAS verdict over the eligibility of heritage players, Megat stressed that his remarks were general advice and not directed at any specific association.
“My advice isn’t for one association alone. It’s for everyone. If you know you’re right and you’ve followed the rules properly, then by all means pursue justice,” he said.
“But don’t go just to delay matters, or to make it look like you’re fighting when there’s no solid case.”
Scrutiny of FAM intensified last year after FIFA imposed disciplinary sanctions for breaches of Article 22, involving falsified documentation for seven naturalised players — Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Héctor Hevel.
In November, FIFA dismissed appeals from both FAM and the players. The association was fined 350,000 Swiss Francs (approximately RM1.8 million), while each player received a fine of 2,000 Swiss Francs (about RM10,600) and a 12-month ban from all football-related activities.
FAM was also ordered to pay an additional 10,000 Swiss Francs (around RM51,400). Malaysia’s results in three international friendlies were annulled, with 3-0 wins awarded to Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine.
Further complications loom for Harimau Malaya, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expected to deduct points from Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, pending the outcome of FAM’s CAS appeal.
Matches under review include Malaysia’s 2-0 victory over Nepal on March 25 and the 4-0 win against Vietnam on June 10, both now central to the ongoing disciplinary fallout. — January 21, 2026
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