Malaysian athlete Nor Farah Mazlan fought her Thai opponent to a 60-60 stalemate in the women’s Class B (50-55 kg) category at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok. However, officials declared the Thai fighter the winner based on a tie-breaker rule, citing that Nor Farah had committed more fouls during the bout.
The decision sparked frustration among the Malaysia team, who argued that the score did not reflect the match. They argued that Nor Farah had been more proactive and effective in her attacks but was unrecognized by the judges.
Malaysia head coach Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir, along with Nor Farah and other staff members, immediately approached the referee’s area to lodge a protest. When their verbal arguments failed to overturn the result, the situation escalated rapidly.
Screenshots of the altercation between the Malaysia pencak silat team and the referee at the SEA Games 33 on Dec. 16, 2025. |
According to reports, the confrontation turned into a physical brawl, with some Malaysia team members directly assaulting referees and officials. The violence threw the arena into disarray, forcing security and police to intervene. Officers separated the parties and the competition was temporarily suspended to restore order.
Despite the great pressure, the SEA Games organizing committee upheld the result, awarding the victory to Thailand. The Malaysia pancak silat team eventually left the arena, expressing deep frustration and disappointment.
The ugly scenes have triggered widespread debate in both Malaysia and Thailand. News outlet Sarawak criticized the scoring as “unprofessional” but also emphasized that violent behavior towards officials is “unacceptable” in any sport.
Malaysian broadcaster TVS commented that the incident raises serious questions about the transparency and fairness of scoring in pencak silat, a discipline that relies heavily on subjective opinions for accuracy in combat.
The video of the brawl at the pencak silat event of SEA Games 33 at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok.
Pencak Silat, which originated in Indonesia and is practiced across Southeast Asia, features both artistic (Seni) and combat (Tanding) categories.
It is a martial art that can be performed unarmed or with weapons, notable for its graceful, almost dance-like movements, combining aesthetics with combat application.
Pencak Silat was first included in the SEA Games at the 14th edition in 1987. Although it was excluded from several editions, it returned at the 33rd SEA Games.
Seni assesses technique, balance, rhythm, and teamwork and may include the use of weapons. In Tanding, matches are fought in a 10×10 meter arena over three two-minute rounds. Points are awarded for successful strikes (punches, kicks), takedowns and counterattacks. Referees also apply penalty points or disqualification for rule violations.
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