Vaithi, a torchbearer of Malaysia’s sporting soul
PETALING JAYA:
At 91, A Vaithilingam still talks about sport the way an athlete talks about a championship race – with urgency, clarity, and fire in his eyes.
Long before Malaysia had stadiums, scholarships, or sports science, he was among the men who built its foundations.
From muddy school fields to national councils, Vaithilingam helped shape athletics, football, and Olympic structures, driven not by titles or pay, but by a belief that sport could bind a young nation together.
“Sport is more than a game,” he says, voice steady despite the years. “It is where you learn discipline, respect, and how to live together. For Malaysia, it was the best way to unite people.”
His story, captured…
