Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN), has recently proposed that Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) be upgraded to a sports university or that a new sports university be built in Batu Pahat, Johor to help the state’s athletes develop.
The former Deputy Minister of Education, who is also Rengit State Assemblyman (ADUN), voiced the suggestion during the DUN oral question and answer session which involves the state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives chairman, Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
Prior to that, Mohd Hairi (Larkin) responded to a question from Datuk Pandak Ahmad (Kota Iskandar) about the proposal to establish a sports university as a sports development hub in the state during the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) meeting on 5th May 2026, at the Sultan Ismail Building in Kota Iskandar.
Mohd Hairi explained that the establishment of a sports university is not the primary requirement for Johor’s aspiration of becoming a “Johor Sports Nation,” but rather serves as a supplement to the existing ecosystem.
“The establishment of this sports university is contingent on ecosystem readiness, current needs, and a comprehensive feasibility study involving a wide range of stakeholders.
“This is critical so that the sports university that is established later is more than just a name but truly functions as a centre for the development of high-performance athletes who have an impact on the state and region,” he said.
Mohd Hairi also stated that the state government is currently focusing on strengthening the overall sports development ecosystem through the Johor State Sports Council (MSNJ).
He stated that one of the main initiatives that has been implemented is the formation of the Athlete Education and Career Section through Johor Athlete Career and Education (JACE), which aims to ensure that state athletes are not left behind in terms of education.
“After retiring from sports, JACE will continue to guide athletes, particularly those in the SUKMA and development programmes, in terms of education and career planning,” he stated.
“Through JACE, MSNJ has also established collaborations with higher education institutions, including Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), to enable SPM graduates to continue their studies with flexibility,” he said.
