Trusted Beasley to have a say in his successor

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

John Beasley, Malaysia’s national cycling technical director since the mid-2000s, will step down next month after citing political and infrastructure challenges that stalled the sport’s progress. The government plans to continue the cycling program following a set blueprint, with Beasley involved in selecting his successor to ensure a smooth transition and sustained development.

SEPANG — John Beasley, the national cycling technical director who has served Malaysia for nearly two decades, is set to conclude his tenure next month. The Australian coach, who initially joined the Malaysian cycling program in the mid-2000s as head coach for track cycling, has expressed frustration with the political challenges, bureaucratic delays, and insufficient grassroots infrastructure that have hindered the sport’s growth.

Beasley transitioned to the role of technical director last year and has played a significant part in developing some of Malaysia’s top cyclists, including Josiah Ng, Rizal Tisin, Fatehah Mustapa, Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, and Azizulhasni Awang. His contributions have been widely recognized within the national cycling community.

Despite Beasley’s departure, the Malaysian government has emphasized that the cycling program’s development will continue based on a predefined blueprint. Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohd Taufiq Johari stated that the selection of Beasley’s successor will involve input from the outgoing director to maintain continuity in the national cycling strategy. He added that decisions would be collaborative, involving the National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC), rather than made unilaterally.

“We have previously issued a statement that with the end of John Beasley’s contract, it does not simply end there. It is followed by a blueprint that has been prepared,” Dr. Mohd Taufiq said. “There will be follow-up discussions with the National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC), and the selection of coaches or technical personnel will be proposed by Beasley himself. This is to ensure the development of our cycling sport adheres to performance standards that have been proven before.”

Beasley’s exit marks the end of a lengthy chapter in Malaysian cycling, with officials aiming to build on the foundation laid during his tenure while addressing ongoing structural challenges in the sport’s administration and development pipeline.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.