MALAYSIA - SABAH: Taekwondo co-curriculum to continue : Masidi

07 March, 2007

Kota Kinabalu: The Youth and Sports Ministry on Tuesday said that they are allowing schools to continue with the taekwondo co-curriculum because they cannot wait for the court to decide the fate of de-registered Malaysia Taekwondo Association (MTA).

Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the self-defence training and programme would be under the supervision of the United Sabah Taekwondo Association (Usta).
Training of more than 10,000 taekwondo trainees in schools throughout Sabah were disrupted when the MTA was de-registered in May, 2005.

"But we cannot wait for the court's decision on the MTA. That's why we are allowing the training session to resume back to normal under the State's taekwondo body supervision," he said during a courtesy call from Usta at his office in Wisma Muis.

The Minister-in-charge of education said if they continue to wait for the court's decision, inevitably, the development of the sport in the schools in Sabah would be paralysed.
He said that the disruption of training of more than 10,000 exponents is causing a big impact to the development of taekwondo.

However, Masidi said they would be monitoring the case which is being pursued by former leaders of the MTA.

He commended Usta for taking the initiative to become a member of the Malaysian Taekwondo Federation (MTF), an association recognised by the Malaysia Sports Commission, National Sports Council, Federal Youth and Sports Ministry and Federal Education Ministry.

He said his Ministry also gives recognition with the authority of Usta as a member of the MTF.

"Usta is the only (taekwondo) association (in Sabah) given absolute authority to supervise the development of the sport in the state particularly in the schools," he said.

Masidi said the priority given by Usta in the development of the athletes is a move that should be welcomed as Sabah prepares for Sukma (Malaysia Games) 2008.

In this respect, he expressed hope that the schools and taekwondo associations at district level would render full cooperation to Usta to enable the latter to continue with its development programmes.

Usta President Datuk David Chong Ket Sui said the association has to date more than 30,000 membership that have also subsequently gained membership with the MTF on Sept 29, last year.

After becoming a member with the MTF, he said Usta has referred with the Sabah Education Department to issue a circulation letter dated Sept 4, 2006 to inform all primary and secondary schools not to be involved with activities that are related with the MTA.

He thanked Sabah Education Department Director Normah Gagoh and the department including Assistant Director of Co-curriculum and Sports Unit, Tham Yun Fook and Human Development Management Sector for their cooperation.

He said Usta was given a letter dated Jan 10, 2007 from the Education Department giving them the authority to handle training in the schools.

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