JOHOR scored a first in Malaysian hockey by becoming the first state to bring the men’s and women’s hockey association under one roof and take the sport to new heights.
The merger between the two associations was a unanimous decision taken at the Johor Hockey Association’s (JHA) 32nd biennial general meeting in Johor Bahru over the weekend.
This is in line with the FIH’s rule that all countries must have only one national association, for both men and women, which has not been strictly enforced by some countries, including Malaysia.
Putting that aside, the biggest surprise at the BGM was when state executive councilor for youth and sports Jais Sarday was voted in uncontested as the new JHA president, replacing incumbent Tunku Abdul Majid Idris Sultan Iskandar, who did not show up.
Tunku Majid, the Bendahara of Johor and former MHF deputy president, recently, lost his bid to make a comeback to the national body which is headed by the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
With his exit as the JHA president, Tunku Majid has severed his links with hockey at both state and national level
Recently elected MHF vice-president Majid Manjit Abdullah, relinquished his post as secretary and moved up the ranks in JHA as one of the two deputy presidents. The other is A. Harbhajan Singh. Both won uncontested.
The four vice-presidents elected are Ledang district officer Amran Abdul Rahman, Putri Wangsa state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Halim Sulaiman, Customs Superintendent A. Parmjit Singh and former Batu Pahat district officer Datuk Awang Mohamad.
Shahabudin Royani was unanimously elected the new secretary while entrepreneur Idris Othman is the treasurer. The appointment of assistant secretary is left to the president.
The six elected as committee members are R. Balakrishnan Nair (JB), Jai Prakash (Segamat), Malek Khiew (Kluang), Murugan Nair (JB), Zahari Othman (Batu Pahat) and Fakharudin Abdul Kadir (Muar).
The new Royal Patron is the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim while Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is the patron.
At the BGM, the delegates also unanimously agreed to change the JHA constitution with the JHA Congress as the ultimate authority governing the association.
“Of late, Johor hockey has taken a slide. But we aim to stop the rot and take the game to new heights and make Johor a hockey powerhouse in the country,” said Majid Manjit.
