Sultan Azlan stays

20/10/2002

SULTAN Azlan Shah (pic) will be returned unopposed as president of the
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) on Saturday.
The MHF held its council meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and Sultan
Azlan Shah, who had officially written his intention to not seek re-
election earlier, had a change of heart and said he would contest.
With his announcement, he will win the post unopposed as his challengers
have made it known that they will not stand if Sultan Azlan Shah decides
to stay on.
"Sultan Azlan Shah made it known today (yesterday) that since all the
other challengers have backed out from the race, he will continue leading
the Federation," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam.
Sultan Azlan Shah started off as deputy president to the late Tun Abdul
Razak in the 1970-1972 term and became the president of MHF in 1981,
taking over from Tun Hussein Onn.
During the Munich Olympics in 1972, he served as team manager of the
national hockey team and through his efforts the country hosted the World
Cup twice - in 1975 and 2002.
"We need his guidance to take Malaysian hockey to the next level, and
since he has made it known that he wants to continue leading hockey, we
expect him to be returned unopposed next week," said Satgunam.
But Satgunam will make sure that the names of the other presidential
candidates will be on the ballot papers because they have not written in
officially to say that they have pulled out of the race.
"Even though we have received verbal retractions from States who have
nominated candidates for the president's post, I will still have to
prepare the ballot papers with their names on it because they have not
sent in official retractions yet.
"The States can send in retractions right up till balloting day so I
don't forsee any problems," said Satgunam.
When nominations closed, Sultan Azlan Shah received backing from Armed
Forces, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
The other nominations for the president's post were Sultan Ahmad Shah
(Pahang, Penang), Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (Kelantan), Tan Sri Elyas
Omar (Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan) and Datuk Abu Bakar Daud (Terengganu).
Sultan Ahmad Shah, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Elyas quit the race
on Friday while Abu Bakar also declined nomination yesterday after finding
out that Sultan Azlan Shah is keen to stay on.
With Sultan Azlan Shah back in the running, several other incumbents are
also expected to be returned to office during the Biennial General
meeting.
Deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra was expected to face a tough fight
from Elyas and Datuk Ahmad Itnin, but with Sultan Azlan Shah still the
leader, Alagendra has already won half the battle.
Satgunam, who received 10 nominations from Armed Forces, Johor, Kedah,
Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor
should have no problems defeating Mohamed Zaki Abdul Rahman who was
nominated by Kuala Lumpur.
Treasurer S. Perampalam has also received a boost with Sultan Azlan
Shah's return and the States might throw their weight behind an old hand
rather than his challenger George Koshy.
(END)