Safe Sport Code a step in right direction with room for improvement - Sarina

KUALA LUMPUR - The implementation of the Safe Sport Code which established guidelines and standards for creating safe and respectful sports environments for athletes, coaches, and officials, has been seen as a step in the right direction for the national sporting arena.

Safe Sport Malaysia President Sarina Sundara Rajah, however, said the code can be further improved with the establishment of an independent reporting body and adjudication mechanism to oversee allegations of abuse or misconduct and ensure that they are impartially and transparently, free from political interference.

She claimed reporting within the current system can be challenging at times as there is a culture within the sporting industry that, more often than not, steers away from helping victims of abuse in order not to tarnish the industry’s reputation.

"Many survivors have reported experiencing defensive reactions when disclosing their experiences and have been re-traumatised in seeking help. To facilitate safe reporting, adopting a harm reduction policy that includes a trauma-informed approach is important to help survivors feel safe and supported,” she said to Bernama recently.

Sarina was commenting on the Safe Sport Code, which was launched by the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) on March 15 as a guideline to create safe sport environments with an emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of all parties in dealing with any form of harassment and abuse within the industry.

Furthermore, Sarina said that in implementing the code, it is also necessary to define clear action plans for the administration of resources and skill development programmes of federally funded sports organisations.

"For meaningful change to occur, the sports organisation-wide ownership and commitment to change across all levels are crucial. Ideally, the Safe Sport strategy is a continuous learning and improvement model with clear accountability and transparency,” she added.

The former national gymnast also said relevant authorities should draw from existing international standards in developing further sport-specific legislation and policies to ensure any potential legal loopholes are closed and to sharpen the laws addressing abuse in sport.

"Such provisions in the law can bridge the divide between the policy and sports worlds, providing tools for sporting organisations to enforce their internal policies to prevent and respond to abuse,” she said.

While there is still room for improvement, Sarina said it is important to recognise Malaysia’s significant strides in introducing the Safe Sport Code as the world celebrates International Safe Sport Day today.

"Change is afoot, and everyone has a crucial role in supporting efforts for legislative action to address abuse in sports, including laws addressing the reporting process, survivors’ rights, and law enforcement responsibilities,” she said. - BERNAMA