MALAYSIA: Elyas unfazed by writ of summons

By S.Selvam

April 27:


TWO separate issues. That's how Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar describes the writ of summons served on him and the Government of Malaysia by the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA).
And Elyas is determined not to allow the court action to interfere with his responsibility or hinder his duty in ensuring the implementation of the Sports Development Act, 1997.

"The Attorney-General will handle the writ of summons served on the Government and the Sports Commissioner," said Elyas after meeting representatives of the MTA at his office in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"As far as the show cause letter is concerned, that process has started and will be completed.

"If I'm satisfied with the explanation given by the MTA to the show cause letter, the matter ends there. But if I am not satisfied, then we have to refer to the Act."

The MTA were represented by their president Ho Kam Phaw, chairman Chin Mee Keong, secretary Yeap Swee Bee and former executive secretary T. Kumar.

The MTA were issued a show cause letter by Elyas under Section 20 (1) (e) of the Sports Development Act, 1997, for hindering the development of taekwondo in the country.

This followed after the MTA's proposed constitutional amendments were deemed to be in contrast to Elyas' advice to ensure clubs are given direct affiliation and voting rights in the MTA in a Feb 16 dialogue where he tabled five models of governance.

And on March 15, Mee Keong gave his undertaking at a Press conference that the constitution will be amended to give clubs direct affiliation and voting rights.

However, the MTA hit back at Elyas seeking a detailed explanation before they can make further changes to the proposals.

Before Elyas could do that, the MTA went on the offensive by serving the writ on Elyas and the Government.

"As far as I am concerned, everything was done according to the provisions provided in the Sports Act," added Elyas.

"Today's (yesterday's) meeting was in response to their request for further clarification on the show cause letter. Nothing else, especially pertaining to the court action, was discussed."

Under Section 20 (1) (e) of the Sports Act, Elyas has the authority to revoke or suspend the registration of a sports body if the Commissioner is satisfied that such a sports body is hindering the development of the particular sport and it is in the public interest to revoke or suspend its registration.


Source from http://www.nst.com.my