States, MAAU: We promise to hold events

08/03/2003

THE Malaysian AAU (MAAU) yesterday signed an `Akujanji' contract with its
main sponsors the National Sports Council (NSC) and Milo as a first step
towards restoring its damaged image.
The MAAU were embroiled in a bitter conflict last year, which eventually
led to its de-registration and this year, the oldest association in
Malaysia is looking at fresh angles to bring back sponsors' confidence.
Twelve of the 15 MAAU affiliates signed the `Akujanji' contract, which
was countersigned by MAAU president Datuk Khalid Yunus, NSC director
general Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad and Nestle Malaysia Sports Marketing
Manager Datuk Dina Rizal.
Only the Penang, Kelantan and Perlis representatives were absent from
the signing ceremony, but Khalid gave assurance that the three States will
sign at a later date.
"The `Akujanji' is an effort to make sure that States hold their junior
meets, and that MAAU will organise the National Championships. The
contract is such that even if one State fails to hold its junior meet, the
rest of the States will not get funding from NSC and Milo," said Khalid.
Previously, MAAU entrusted one of its affiliates to run the National
Championships, but it did not work.
NSC and Milo have agreed to sponsor MAAU to the tune of RM500,000 in
cash and kind, and will provide another RM5,000 to each affiliate which
organises a junior competition.
The two sponsors will also allocate RM5,000 for every State Open
organised, but, as stipulated in the `Akujanji', even if one State or
affiliate fails to comply, the entire sponsorship deal will be terminated.
"Being the oldest association in Malaysia, we are not free of disease.
Even a 100-year-old tree succumbs to fungus and other parasites. But we
are working to clean up our image which has been very `kabur' (hazy) so
that the athletes will not suffer and will be able to win medals in the
2006 Asian Games in Doha," said Khalid.
"The `Akujanji' with NSC and Milo is also to attract more sponsors to
MAAU which is still facing a huge shortage of funds to carry out some of
our plans for the juniors. So I hope the MAAU affiliates will work
together and fill up our coffers for a better future in athletics," said
Khalid.
Khalid is looking at Malaysian athletes making the semi-finals of the
Olympics, and medals at the Asian Games to lend more credibility to MAAU's
image.
Meanwhile, to strenghten the administrative side of MAAU, Lt Col Abdul
Hamid Barkat Ali was appointed its general manager by the Executive Board
yesterday.
Hamid, the Armed Forces AAA secretary, was appointed acting general
manager in July last year but it was only for six months. He is due to
retire from the Armed Forces this month, and will have ample time to put
MAAU's house in order.
When asked if any other national association will sign the `Akujanji'
with NSC, Mazlan said MAAU is a special case.
(END)