By Kamarul Halim M Kamal
SEGAMAT, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- A deep love for the country and the desire to see the Jalur Gemilang continue to fly on the international stage are among the driving forces behind Datuk Ayub Rahmat’s efforts to transform the landscape of Malaysian weightlifting.
The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (PABM) president said an athlete’s success should not be measured solely by the medals they win, but also by the honour and image of the country that they carry and must uphold every time they compete.
“When our athletes compete, they are not just representing themselves or the association, but Malaysia. That is why we want them to compete cleanly and, when they win, for that victory to truly be a source of pride for the country,” he told Bernama recently in conjunction with the 2026 National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations (HKHM).
Ayub said based on that principle, PABM adopts a comprehensive approach to athlete development, including welfare, guidance, nutrition and medication, to ensure they remain free from doping issues.
He said the use of prohibited substances had previously plagued the sport and affected the participation of national athletes, partly due to a lack of awareness about nutrition and medication.
Ayub, who joined the PABM committee as deputy president in 2013, said efforts to combat doping became one of his main agendas before being further strengthened after he was appointed president in 2018.
From being plagued by doping issues to winning seven medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the journey of Malaysian weightlifting reflects Ayub’s determination to restore the sport’s glory while ensuring the Jalur Gemilang continues to fly on the international stage.
“After being appointed to lead PABM, one of the main things I did was amend the association’s constitution, placing emphasis on producing healthy athletes who are free from prohibited substances,” he said.
He said PABM had also strengthened the initiative at grassroots level, with athletes and coaches required to undergo screening tests, including young athletes competing at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), while working closely with the Malaysia Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS) and the National Sports Council (NSC).
Ayub said the sustained efforts had paid off when weightlifters recorded a clean doping record at the 2024 Sarawak SUKMA, before the national squad won three silver and two bronze medals at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
The excellence continued at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where the national weightlifting squad won seven medals — five gold, one silver and one bronze — besides receiving the Best Men’s Team Award through the 2026 Trafalgar Trophy from the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation.
Ayub said each achievement brought a sense of satisfaction as PABM’s goal was not merely to produce champions, but to shape athletes who understood their responsibility in carrying Malaysia’s name.
“When the Jalur Gemilang is raised and Negaraku is played because of our athletes’ victories, that is a source of pride. It is this feeling of love for the country that makes us want to continue working and see Malaysia succeed,” he said.
According to the former Johor executive councillor for Health and Environment, PABM now aims to expand weightlifting talent development to schools through cooperation with the Education Ministry (MOE), while welcoming support from the private and corporate sectors to produce more young talents.
He said talent identification needed to be expanded nationwide as many Malaysians had the potential to be developed, with PABM now aiming to further strengthen the country’s position in Asia, including realising the dream of winning medals at the Asian Games.
Recalling his involvement in the sport, Ayub said the journey began in 2006 when then Johor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman entrusted him with overseeing the Johor Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Association.
He said the challenging responsibility eventually grew into a mission to see national athletes succeed and the Jalur Gemilang continue to fly on the world stage.
-- BERNAMA