In early March this year the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, led a Malaysian government delegation to Australia. During this visit a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on cooperation in the field of sport was signed.

In a small ceremony held at Parliament House on 3 March, the Australian and Malaysian prime ministers witnessed Senator the Hon. Christopher Evans, Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations (on behalf of the Minister for Sport, Senator Mark Arbib), and YB Dato’ Ahmed Shabery Bin Cheek, the Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, sign the agreement.

The MOU will assist both countries to strengthen, promote and further develop cooperation in sports on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. The document reflects the continuing importance Australia and Malaysia place on progressing shared objectives in sports cooperation.

Activities that the MOU will promote in both countries include the sharing of information and resources on sports administration, junior sport and coaching and officiating to support sport development practices and provide links between sports.

The Australian Government previously held a sport-related MOU with the Malaysian Government from 1995 to 1998. A number of cooperative activities took place under this prior agreement, including Australian athlete preparation for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. The current MOU will remain in effect for two years, with the possibility of future extension.