Thursday February 28, 2008
Selangor BN candidates all set for the big match
The sports arena is now an open field in the battle for votes. Politicians are exploring and exploiting sports in their efforts to reach out to the voters.
The success of the Selangor football team in the ongoing M-League is expected to contribute to the election campaigns of four candidates – Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, Datuk Mohamed Satim Diman, Datuk Subahan Kamal and Datuk Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor.
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The boss: Selangor Mentri Besar and state Umno chief Dr Khir (left) is the president of Football Association of Selangor (FAS).
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Selangor Mentri Besar and state Umno chief Khir is the president of Football Association of Selangor (FAS). He is defending his Sungai Panjang state seat under the Sungai Besar parliamentary constitutency.
Satim is a vice-president and team manager of the Selangor team in the Super League. He is going for a second term in Seri Serdang, a state seat in the Puchong parliamentary constituency.
Subahan, a FAS council member and assistant team manager, is making his debut in the general election, representing the Barisan Nasional in the Taman Templer state seat under the Selayang parliamentary constituency.
Bushro, who is seeking second term in the Paya Jaras state seat under the Subang parliamentary constituency, is responsible for the Selangor Youth Cup squad.
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T. Mohan: President of the Kabaddi Association of Selangor (KAS)
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The FAS has made arrangements for the Selangor football team to train, a day each, at Sungai Panjang, Seri Serdang and Taman Templer before polling day on March 8.
A FAS official said the football players would be campaigning for the four candidates.
“Selangor is going great guns in the M-League. We have been attracting a big crowd for our home matches. We are confident that the Selangor fans will support the FAS officials in the general election,” the official said.
Datuk Lee Hwa Beng of the MCA, who is contesting the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat, is popular among residents in Subang Jaya, where he had served as a state assemblyman. Over the last five years, Lee has built several basketball and futsal courts in the Subang Jaya constituency.
Lee, who is also the patron of the Kelab Hoki Ais Saga (Khas), has also been supporting the Subang Jaya Community Youth Football League (SJCYFL).
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Lee: Patron of the Kelab Hoki Ais Saga (Khas).
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Lee said sport was an excellent way to promote racial unity among youngsters and was impressed with the SJCYFL.
“Parents are involved in the programme. If not for it, many parents will be just idling around on Saturdays and Sundays. I am pleased to be part the programme,” he said.
Lee was also responsible for Malaysia’s debut in the Asian Winter Games in Changchun, China, last year.
Businessman T. Mohan of the MIC, who is contesting in the Batu Caves state seat under the Gombak parliamentary constituency, has also made a name for himself in the sports fraternity. The 35-year-old Mohan is president of the Kabaddi Association of Selangor (KAS).
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Paya Jaras assemblyman: Mohd Bushro (right) is responsible for the Selangor Youth Cup squad.
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Under his leadership, KAS has organised several development programmes and promoted kabaddi as a multi-racial sport.
Selangor is the only state that has organised an inter-district kabaddi championships. Last year, KAS also initiated a junior league.
Mohan said he was more concerned about getting children from different races to be involved in sports.
“It can be football, kabaddi or badminton. We have to be groomed from young to lead a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Serdang parliamentary constitutency, is the president of the Selangor Basketball Association (SBA) and had initiated several programmes at grassroots. The fomer Balakong state assemblyman had successfully organised non-Chinese basketball leagues and programmes with SportsUnite.
Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar, who is defending his seat in the Sijankang state seat under the Kuala Langat parliamentary constitutency, is president of the Selangor Lawn Bowls Association.
Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil, who won the Sementa state seat under the Kapar parliamentary constituency, uncontested, is president of the Selangor Sepak Takraw Association.
Datuk Ei Kim Hock, the incumbent assemblyman for the Teluk Datuk state seat under the Kuala Langat parliamentary constituency, heads the Selangor Handball Association. Ei was a former handball player and represented Selangor in his younger days.
Datuk Salamon Selamat, who is seeking re-election for the Batu Tiga state seat under the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency, is president of the Selangor Hockey Association.
Hasiman Sidom, seeking a second term for the Morib state seat under the Kuala Langat parliamentary constituency, heads the Selangor Bodybuilding Federation.
As sports association presidents, these candidates are constantly in the public eye. Their popularity will be put to the test on polling day.
POLITICIANS INVOLVED IN SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS
Datuk Lee Hwa Beng: Patron of Kelab Hoki Ais Saga
Datuk Hoh Hee Lee: Selangor Basketball Association (president)
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo: Football Association of Selangor (president)
Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar: Selangor Lawn Bowls Association (president)
Datuk Salamon Salamat: Selangor Hockey Association (president)
T. Mohan: Kabaddi Association of Selangor (president)
Hasiman Sidom : Selangor BodyBuilding Federation (president)
Datuk Ei Kim Hock : Selangor Handball Association (president)
Datuk Mohamed Satim Diman: Football Association of Selangor (vice-president and team manager)
Datuk Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor (FAS - Under-19 team manager)
Datuk Subahan Kamal: Football Association of Selangor (council member)
Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil: Selangor Sepak Takraw Association (president)
Selangor fans supporting a guy called Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor? Alamak. As a Johor fan, this is unacceptable.