KUALA LUMPUR – Tributes have poured in for former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad, who died yesterday afternoon at the age of 75.
Mazlan, who led the NSC from March 1993 to August 2005, passed away at the University Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) at around 4.20pm. He had been hospitalised since Friday following a stroke and complications due to pneumonia.
His death is being mourned across Malaysia’s sporting community, with many remembering him as the driving force behind some of the country’s most successful high-performance programmes, including Jaya ’98 and Gemilang 2001, which propelled Malaysia to historic achievements at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria described Mazlan as “a calm, soft-spoken figure whose insights were always sharp and respected.”
“Allahyarham was not only instrumental in building the NSC, but continued contributing to Malaysian sport through his role as an independent member of OCM’s selection committee,” Norza told Bernama.
“His service was invaluable, especially in establishing programmes that lifted our sporting standards. We appointed him because we trusted his integrity, transparency, and expertise in selecting athletes to represent the nation.”
Current NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin, who was once appointed by Mazlan to lead the council’s elite sports unit, said the late administrator left behind a legacy that will be hard to replace.
“He was a giant in Malaysian sports. He was the chief architect of national development programmes, including Jaya ’98,” said Jefri to Bernama.
Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) president Norismadi Abd Manap also paid tribute, calling Mazlan “a visionary who shaped the country’s sports landscape.”
“We’ve lost the architect of national sports development, someone who left behind a long and meaningful legacy. I was in several meetings with him, and he always demonstrated sharp thinking.
“Even after suffering a stroke, which limited his speech, his mind remained alert and attentive to issues affecting athletes and national associations,” Norismadi added.
Sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli remembered Mazlan as one of the most approachable directors the NSC has had.
“He was always easy to talk to and ready for interviews, no matter the issue. That was the beauty of his character.”
Mazlan was named National Sports Icon of the Year in 2022, and played a central role in restructuring the National Sports Institute (ISN) to provide stronger science and medical support for elite athletes. He also strengthened the national youth athlete development pipeline during his 12-year tenure.
He held numerous leadership roles in national sports bodies, including the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), and served as Chef de Mission for Malaysia at the 2001 SEA Games.
His funeral took place today, with prayers scheduled at Masjid Al-Ehsan in Kelana Jaya before burial at the Islamic cemetery in Section 9, Kota Damansara. — April 14, 2025