KUALA LUMPUR: The “hot” post of the Selangor Badminton Association (SBA) president will be contested.
Lawyer Kamarudin Ahmad announced yesterday that he would challenge Datuk Zainal Dahalan for the post. Zainal has been the president since 1986.
The 53-year-old Kamarudin, a badminton fan, said: “I have been approached (to challenge for the post) and I will take it up. It is time for winds of change in the SBA. Some have been there for a very long time.
“I am neither a minister nor hold any big positions in other sports association. I am genuinely interested to contribute as a leader for the good of the game and the association.”
Kamarudin, who is also the chairman of the Youth Development Academy in Shah Alam and former Umno youth leader, said he agreed to challenge for the post in the wake of the “house-keeping” problems in the SBA.
Two weeks ago, the Sports Commissioner instructed the SBA to put on hold to their biennial elections until further notice following official complaints made on their previous elections held on June 29, 2001.
The SBA were reported to have allowed delegates from deregistered clubs to vote in the last biennial elections.
Three former council members lodged a police report on July 27, 2001 against the SBA for allowing delegates of the Lim Seng Huat Badminton Party and Merry Juniors Badminton Party to cast their votes in the elections even though they had been deregistered by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
An official letter was also sent to the Sports Commissioner on Aug 28 the same year.
Zainal, who is also the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, said they would submit a comprehensive report on the status of their affiliates as requested by the Sports Commissioner.
“We will submit all the information required. We will also request permission to hold our election. Once we get the green light, we will hold our election, most likely in April,” said Zainal.
The SBA now have 70 clubs registered with them.
On candidates challenging him for the president’s post, Zainal said: “We have been much criticised but if anyone feels that they are capable of contributing to the sport and association, they should come forward through the proper procedures. At the end of the day, we need people who can put sport above personal interests.”
Under Zainal's tenure, Selangor have remained a dominant force in Malaysian badminton, providing a flow of quality players to the national team.
