Megat Shahriman said instead of continuing to comment on the issue involving the 31-year-old athlete, it would be better to create an initiative to honour his services and sacrifices in bringing glory to Malaysia all these years.

Megat Shahriman, who appeared on Bernama TV’s Sukan+ programme tonight, said members of the public, especially netizens, could show their concern for Ziyad’s plight by chipping in that way.

At the same time, he agreed that it was not suitable for the National Sports Incentive Scheme (SHAKAM) to be given to the shot putter.

“For SHAKAM, there are rules and criteria. If Ziyad fulfils the criteria, then we can reward him but he did not win any medal and, although he broke the record, it was not recognised. But for all those out there, any party or individual who wishes to carry out crowdfunding, to assist, there is no problem in helping him. We welcome such efforts,” he said.

Commenting on the incentive from the PCM, Megat Shahriman, who was also the Malaysian chef de mission to the Tokyo Paralympics, said the national governing body would hold a meeting to discuss the matter in the near future.

“Some question why PCM didn’t give him the RM1 million, this is not PCM’s duty as we are not a welfare body.

“Let’s see what happens at the meeting. We will see how we can help Ziyad,” he said.

Ziyad was denied the gold medal in the men’s shot put F20 (intellectual impairment) category at the recent 2020 Tokyo Paralympics after he was alleged to have been late to enter the call room.

That resulted in him missing out on the RM1 million reward to be paid out under SHAKAM for winning the Paralympic gold and an additional RM100,000 from FWD Takaful.

Ziyad had previously received the SHAKAM incentive worth RM1 million and a lifelong monthly pension of RM5,000 from the government for winning the gold medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.