KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): The Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday approved amendments to legislation that would empower the youth and sports minister to revoke the registration of sports bodies deemed harmful to national security, public order or morality.

The Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed by a majority voice vote after 31 members of Parliament from both sides of the divide debated the proposal.

At the heart of the bill is the proposed new Section 41A, which empowers the youth and sports minister, after consulting the sports commissioner, to declare any sports body unlawful if it is used for purposes deemed prejudicial to or incompatible with Malaysia’s security, public order or morality.

Any order made by the minister would immediately revoke the registration of the sports body.

Several MPs from both sides of the aisle raised concerns over the “absolute power” that could be given to the minister and the potential for discrimination.

Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (Libaran-BN) questioned why the proposed Section 41A would place the power to declare a sports body unlawful and revoke its registration under the minister.

“Given that the sports commissioner is responsible for administering and regulating the Act, why does the amendment expand the minister’s decision-making powers over sports bodies?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Datuk Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo-GPS) urged that the powers to declare a sports body unlawful or revoke its registration be clearly defined to avoid overlapping jurisdictions between the minister, sports commissioner and registrar of societies.

While firm action should be taken against associations that commit serious offences, he said safeguards, including proper investigations, the right to be heard, due legal process and an appeals mechanism, must remain in place.

Winding up the debate, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the proposed Section 41A was intended to align the Sports Development Act with the Societies Act 1966 and other legislation while ensuring the minister’s power to revoke a sports body’s registration was not absolute.

He said the minister would have to go through a process involving consultation and advice from the sports commissioner before any action could be taken and could not revoke a sports body’s registration simply because of a disagreement with the association.

He also stressed that the power could only be exercised if a sports body was being used for purposes involving Malaysia’s security, public order or morality, adding that the determination of such matters must be based on existing laws and offences.

Mohammed Taufiq also said that any decision to revoke a sports body’s registration could be challenged in court and the minister would have to comply if the court ruled otherwise.

Following its passage in the Dewan Rakyat, the bill will now be referred to the Dewan Negara for debate and voting before being presented to the King for royal assent and then gazetted as law.

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