MALAYSIA: MTA may ‘suffer heavy losses’

S. Selvam
Apr 28:


MAGNUM Corporation Berhad have done it, Milo are considering it and the National Sports Council (NSC), understandably, are following recent developments very closely as the Malaysian Taekwondo Association's (MTA) persistent stand against clubs may cost the association dearly, somewhere in the region of RM1.1 million.
Magnum, who were MTA's 'Taja Gemilang' sponsors, withdrew their financial support of RM300,000 a year in a letter to the MTA dated April 8.

According to a Malay Mail report on April 20, Magnum withdrew because the goings on in the MTA appears rather disturbing since the second quarter of last year following the departure of former chairman (Jimmy Khoo) and, later, the premature departure of the president Jen (rtd) Tan Sri Ghazali Seth.

Magnum's sponsorship was supposed to end on Aug 31, 2007.

The MTA were issued a show cause letter by Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar for hindering the development of the sport as the proposed amendments to give clubs voting rights was full of obstacles, contrary to the undertaking given by the MTA on March 15.

Although the MTA replied to the show cause letter, they also served a writ of summons on Elyas and the Malaysian Government last Monday.

But MTA's financial independence could be further curtailed as Milo have indicated they are also evaluating their involvement as a sponsor.

"We have already withdrawn as a sponsor of the National Championshsips (senior category) but this was a decision made much earlier," said Nestle's sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong.

"However, we are still keen to support the National Youth and the National Inter-Clubs Championships.

"However, recent developments in the sport has changed the whole scenario. As such, we are adopting a wait and see approach."

Last year, Milo's sponsorship with MTA was worth RM100,000 in cash and kind.

But the biggest losers could be the 28 athletes in the various training programmes under the financial support of the NSC.

NSC's budget for taekwondo runs close to RM1 million this year as they look after the training, competition, education and welfare of the two athletes in the elite programme, 10 athletes in the Gemilang 2006 and 16 athletes in the Bukit Jalil Sports School.

Also included in the total funding package is the salary of the three coaches, R. Dhanaraj, K.M. Rajendran and Moi Chee Keong.

The bulk of the expenses goes to the various international tournaments and training stints where approximately RM500,000 has been budgeted for.

On April 13 this year, Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said issued a stern reminder to the MTA to put their house in order. And if the national body continue to hamper the admission of clubs into their structure or remain defiant to the directives from her or the Sports Commissioner's office, the association can forget about funding from the ministry or the NSC.

Whether that will happen, only time will tell.


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