Saturday, May 21, 2005

MALAYSIA: MTA lose Terengganu TA’s support

S. Selvam
May 18


THE Terengganu Taekwondo Association (TTA) are the latest State body to withdraw their support for the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) and their office bearers due to their seemingly defiant stand against Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar and his office.

TTA president Datuk Razali Ismail also clarified that the association had full faith in Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said and Elyas to resolve the dispute amicably.

In fact, Razali said he was unaware that the TTA had voiced their objections to the way Elyas handled the whole episode and in the same letter, expressing the TTA’s support of the MTA and their office bearers.

"I don’t know what transpired but as far as we (TTA) are concerned, the sport must not suffer. We are confident that the Sports Minister will be able to resolve the issue," said Razali.

The MTA, the governing body for taekwondo under the World Taekwondo Federation-system in Malaysia, were de-registered by Elyas on May 6 and have 30 days to appeal from the date of the notification.

MTA chairman Chin Mee Keong on May 9 claimed that the MTA’s perceived defiant stand against the Sports Commissioner had "101 per cent support from the general council" comprising representatives from each State association.

Elyas revoked the registration of the MTA based on Article 20(1)(e) of the Sports Development Act, 1997 which states that the Commissioner may revoke or suspend the registration of a sports body if the Commissioner is satisfied that such sports body is hindering the development of the particular sport and it is in the public interest to revoke or suspend its registration.

At the centre of the controversy is the MTA’s reluctance to grant clubs voting rights despite Elyas presenting five models of governance and issuing the association a show cause letter on April 15.

According to Elyas, the MTA’s amendments did not guarantee clubs voting rights, contrary to what was promised by the MTA.

The Selangor Taekwondo Association (STA) were the first State body to rescind their support of the MTA.

On whether the TTA supported the MTA office bearers’ legal proceedings against the Government and Elyas, Razali said: "No. We only support Sports Minister Datuk Azalina and hope she will be able to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

"The sport, especially the children, should not suffer. And on that note, we are going to go ahead with the Junior Championships on May 27-29 in Terengganu."

A meet which the TTA and the State Government support fully.


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

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