Can history repeat itself in Malaysia Athletics’ (MA) annual general meeting on June 15?
Incumbent president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim faces three challengers, including a former leader of the national body, but he must be wary of a bid from a current vice-president.
After announcing the candidates yesterday, Shahidan, who also heads the Perlis Athletics Association, said he welcomed the challenge from Perak’s Datuk Karim Ibrahim, MA vice-president Datuk Wira Mark Ling (Negeri Sembilan), and Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh (Terengganu).
Shahidan received four nominations, while Ling received two. Karim and Wan Hisham received one nomination each.
Karim is no stranger to the scene. He was president when the national body was known as the Malaysia Athletics Federation (2015-2019).
Interestingly, five affiliates chose not to nominate anyone for the association’s top post, which could give the challengers hope of unseating Shahidan. Why the silence? Or were the five hedging their bets to see who was being nominated?
For Ling, who is also MA’s coaching committee chairman, it is a make-or-break situation, as he has only been nominated for one post. Karim and Wan Hisham have also been nominated for the deputy president’s position, alongside three others – Datuk R. Annamalai (Pahang), Mohamat Hasan (Sabah), and Sallehudin Safar (Johor).
MA allows candidates to accept nominations for multiple positions, but they may only choose one position on polling day, June 15. There are nine candidates for the four vice-presidents’ posts.
Shahidan has a good track record when it comes to elections in sports associations, but his first stint as the national body’s president from 2006 to 2012 ended in 2013 when Negeri Sembilan’s Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad defeated him 23-21.
So, can a Negeri Sembilan candidate do it again?
One key difference is that 12 years ago, it was a straight fight between Shahidan and Zainal Abidin. Now, there are four candidates – but that could change, as negotiations over a compromise began yesterday. Still, a four-cornered fight would be interesting. Shahidan still holds the cards, but Ling’s ability to bring in sponsors is a big draw.
Karim still has many supporters within the association and helped Shahidan defeat Datuk SM Muthu in the previous elections. But he is now ready to challenge his ‘friend’. Wan Hisham is no stranger to upsetting the apple cart – 12 years ago, he won the race to be Zainal Abidin’s deputy by defeating Karim.
Meanwhile, Muthu handed a protest letter to Shahidan before yesterday’s MA council meeting, claiming Selangor Athletics Association president Nurhayati Karim did not follow the state association’s constitution in calling for a meeting to nominate the candidates and name the three delegates for the AGM.
Muthu, the Petaling Athletics Association president, and five other Selangor Athletics Association affiliates also wrote to the Sports Commissioner’s Office alleging procedural deficiencies during Selangor’s AGM on April 26.
The six members – Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Sepang, Klang and Hulu Selangor – represent two-thirds of the state’s affiliates. They had proposed Muthu as Malaysia Athletics president during the April 26 AGM, but Nurhayati rejected their nomination.
Muthu is considering his next course of action.
