Candidates interested in the post of National Sports Council (NSC) director-general can submit their applications, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said the post of NSC director-general will be on a two-year contract basis and those interested can start applying from today.

Details of the qualifications and job scope can be viewed on the ministry's website.

"Anyone with the necessary qualification or expertise can apply. It is not restricted to locals only but open to even foreigners. I expect the post to be filled by year end.

"We will also change the name of the post," he told reporters after opening the WiO and Zac & Zibbo Your Family Wellness Centre in Citta Mall, here Tuesday.

Embattled current NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong has since been appointed CEO of the 2017 SEA Games which will be hosted by Malaysia.

Zolkples came under fire when the Malaysian contingent failed to achieve the target in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea.

Meanwhile, speaking of Datuk Karim Ibrahim's return to the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) as the new president, Khairy said it was his hope that the election of new office bearers would improve the achievement of
athletics in the country.

"An internal crisis can affect the performance of athletes and we in the ministry hope to work with MAF's new leadership," he said adding that since Karim was elected by the affiliates, he is eligible to be the president.

Karim was elected as the president of the MAF after defeating Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh by a majority of 25 votes during the MAF Annual General Meeting last Saturday.