Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Malaysia Pencak Silat Team Attacks Referees After Controversial Loss
During the SEA Games in Thailand, a Malaysian athlete named Nor Farah Mazlan had a match against a Thai athlete.
The match ended in a tie, but the officials gave the win to the Thai athlete because they said the Malaysian athlete made more mistakes.
The Malaysian team was very upset and argued that their athlete was better.
Some team members even got into a fight with the referees and organisers.
The match had to be stopped for a while, but then it continued, and the Thai athlete kept the win.
This happened while there is still a war going on between Thailand and Cambodia, which has been in the news a lot.
Malaysian athlete Nor Farah Mazlan fought to a 60-60 stalemate against Thailand’s Jongtima Ruenthong in the women’s Class B (50–55 kg) category at the 33rd SEA Games.
Officials awarded the win to Jongtima based on a tie-breaker rule, citing that Nor Farah committed more fouls.
The Malaysian team protested the ruling, with some members physically assaulting referees and organisers.
Security and police intervened, temporarily suspending the match before it resumed with the Thai victory upheld.
The incident has sparked debate over scoring fairness in Pencak Silat, a Southeast Asian martial art.
- Who
- Malaysian Pencak Silat team, including head coach Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir and athlete Nor Farah Mazlan
- What
- Attack on referees and organisers after a controversial loss
- When
- December 16, 2023
- Where
- Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand
- Why
- Dispute over the application of a tie-breaker rule in a Pencak Silat match
- Athlete
- Nor Farah Mazlan
- Opponent
- Jongtima Ruenthong
- Category
- Women's Class B (50–55 kg)
- Venue
- Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand
- Event
- 33rd SEA Games
- Date
- December 16, 2023
- Controversy
- Tie-breaker rule application
- Outcome
- Thai victory upheld