SEMENYIH ─ The Selangor Sepak Takraw Association (PSS) has become the third affiliate member of the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) to announce their withdrawal from the national governing body effective today.
PSS president, Datuk Markiman Kobiran, said the association’s special meeting agreed that they had lost faith in PSM president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail, following the dispute between Ahmad, PSM and the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF).
He said the virtual meeting last Sunday also decided that the association lost faith in the PSM management to administrate, manage and defend the dignity and honour of the sport.
“Therefore, the meeting agreed and gives a full mandate for PSS to withdraw from PSM effective immediately to establish and be a member of a new national sepak takraw governing body that will replace PSM,” he said in a media conference here today.
Gabungan Sepak Takraw Kelantan (Gastak) was the first affiliate to pull out of the PSM last Sunday, followed by the Johor Sepak Takraw Association (PSJ) yesterday.
The dispute between Ahmad, PSM and ASTAF resulted in Ahmad being suspended from any sepak takraw activity at the local and international stage for 15 years by the ASTAF disciplinary committee on May 5.
The former ASTAF deputy president, who is better known as Tok Mat, was also asked to repay ASTAF US$25,000 (around RM102,900) to cover the costs of the committee hearing.
To make matters worse, PSM was also temporarily suspended by ASTAF on allegations of a breach in complying with all International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) and ASTAF objectives and constitutions as agreed upon on March 14, 2008.
“The dispute has affected the welfare of players, coaches and employees and PSM’s main activity will be blocked, which will have a negative effect on the country’s sepak takraw,” Markiman added.
He also did not deny the possibility that more associations will pull out of PSM soon. ─ BERNAMA, 11 May 2021
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