Norza Retains OCM Presidency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Mohamad Norza Zakaria has been returned unopposed for the 2021-2025 term after the nominations closed on Wednesday. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president won the OCM presidency also unopposed in 2018, replacing Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, who chose not to seek reelection after holding the post since 1998. Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Hamidin Mohd Amin, a newcomer, also won the deputy president’s seat unopposed. OCM Independent Election Panel head (returning officer) Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos confirmed that two more incumbents were also returned unopposed - Moira Tan (assistant secretary-general) and Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin (treasurer). However, the focus of the Sept 4 election will be on the four-cornered fight for the secretary-general’s post. The four involved are incumbent Mohd Nafizuddin Mohd Najib, deputy president Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation president Melvin Chia and Malaysia Sailing Association secretary Megat Fairuz Khairuddin. Meanwhile, eight candidates are set to battle for the five vice-presidents’ posts, including incumbents Mumtaz Jaffar, Prof Dr. S. Shamala and Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim. Voting will be held online for the first time in OCM’s history due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 34 affiliates (ordinary members) eligible to vote for office bearers. “We received 31 submissions out of 34 members, but the nomination from judo was classified as null and void because it was made without the consent of the candidate. We have also conducted background checks, including with the police, on all the eligible candidates. “We will conduct a trial for online voting with the 34 NSAs (National Sports Associations) on Sept 2 for them to familiarise themselves with the electronic voting system before the actual elections,” he told a press conference at the Wisma OCM here, Friday. The full list of nominations: 1. President: Mohamad Norza Zakaria (unopposed) 2. Deputy-president: Hamidin Mohd Amin (unopposed) 3. Vice-presidents (5 posts): Mumtaz Jaffar, Prof Dr S. Shamala, Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim, Datuk Chong Kim Fatt, Shahrul Zaman Yahya, Megat Zulkairnain Omardin, Nik Razeen Adam Daud, Nur Azmi Ahmad 4. Secretary-general: Mohd Nafizuddin Mohd Najib, Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, Melvin Chia & Megat Fairuz Khairuddin 5. Assistant secretary-general: a) Men: Chan Foong Keong, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Zin b) Woman: Moira Tan (unopposed) 6. Treasurer: Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin (unopposed) 7. Assistant treasurer: Amarjit Singh Gill, Mohd Nasir Ali. -- BERNAMA