Sukom 98 Bhd finally close their accounts

KUALA LUMPUR: Sukom 98 Bhd, the company set up to organise the 1998 Commonwealth Games, have finally closed their accounts. 

The audited statement of accounts, which was closed as at the end of 2002, saw the company posting a loss of RM11.6mil. 

The Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Azalina Othman Said, said this yesterday at a special press conference called to announce the closing of accounts, which had been a bone of contention for the last few years. 

She said that the task of Sukom now was to decide on how to settle the debts.  

“We have finished with one chapter – that is the closing of the accounts. Sukom will now have to deal with how to settle it and where to raise the money. Of the RM11.6mil, a total of RM11.4mil is owed to the government,” said Azalina. 

“I would like to thank the Sports Advisory Panel for resolving the issue quickly.” 

Azalina explained that the RM11.4mil owed to the government was the grant given to Sukom as start-up capital to finance the Games. 

She added that Sukom would not wrap up their operations just yet and three of the directors who have left would be replaced soon. 

Sukom have five directors on their board – three are from the government and two from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). 

The three who have left the board are former Sports Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Mahmad Zabri Min and Datuk Izzuddin Dali.  

The two remaining on the board are the OCM president, Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, and the secretary, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi. 

Azalina also said that the accounts were up for scrutiny by anyone who was interested and those who were not happy with them could take the matter to the relevant authorities. 

“As far as we (the ministry) are concerned, the matter is closed. We will move on to other matters like the settling of the debts,” she said. “The new Sukom board can also make decisions on any wrong doings. We are open to any course of action that they deem fit to initiate.”