Pic: Thomas Lee (second from left).WORK to salvage the sunken Malaysian Professional Golfers Association (MPGA) has already started, after the Sports Commissioner’s office appointed Thomas Lee as the skipper.
Lee, a former Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) president, and 10 other members of the MPGA Ad-Hock committee, were hand-pickled by Sports Commissioner Datuk Nik Mah mud Nik Yusof.
“We have been given the mandate by the Sports Com missioner’s office to look into issues that have been plaguing the MPGA, with specific form of reference to see what we can do to revive the association and help promote professional golf.
“But I would like to stress here, that we will not conduct a witch-hunt to see who is wrong and who is right. Our purpose is to develop a blueprint which which will elevate pro golf to the standard expected by the public and the golf industry,” said Lee.
The Ad-Hock committee was formed on Nov 19, after the MPGA was suspended by the Commissioner’s office.
A check with former MPGA secretary S. Selvakumar revealed that their appeal was rejected.
“We did appeal the suspension but received a letter which said that our appeal has been rejected,” said Selvakumar.
The Ad-Hock committee has been given five terms of reference by the Commissioner:
1. Look into the role and responsibilities of the MPga in relation to developing pro golf in Malaysia.
2. Amend the MPGA constitution to make it relevant with its role and responsibilities, and to re-study the by-laws.
3. Hold and Extraordinary General Meeting to endorse changes to the MPGA constitution and then hold an Annual General Meeting to appoint new office-bearers.
4. Look into the daily running of the MPGA.
5. To study other issues on how to strengthen the MPGA.
“We have been given five terms of reference, but the fourth, which states we have to look into the daily running of the MPGA is not relevant as it has been suspended,” said Lee.
When asked about the dead-line: “We have not set our selves a dead-line to complete our work, as there are many documents to look into. But sufficient to say, our work will be completed as soon as possible.”
The committee is made up of experienced hands in the industry, with even the General Manager of Saujana Golf and Country Club, John Eu, among its members.
AD-Hoc Committee Members: Thomas Lee, Zulkifli Ismail, Harris Zainal, Victor Lim, Firruz Jaffril, John Eu, Frankie Choo, M. Selvanaban, K. Rajendera, Nazamuddin Yusof and Mej (rtd) Richard Lian.
