KUALA LUMPUR – Former Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi died last Saturday, July 16.
The former water polo athlete played a significant role in the development of sports, and his professional contributions advanced the Olympic movement in Malaysia.
In a statement, OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria expressed his gratitude to the long-serving former secretary-general.
“He is known by many as one of the individuals responsible for the prospering of OCM, having been there from its early years to the institution that stands strong today,” said Norza.
Sieh had volunteered his services to the OCM since 1974, where he had served in various committees and task forces before being elected as the honorary secretary in 1992.
He devoted his career to OCM throughout his tenure as honorary secretary (1992-2013), secretary-general (2013-2015), and assistant secretary-general (2015-2018).
“Kok Chi left behind incredible legacies, such as the establishment of OCM’s administrative structure, the OCM annual dinner and awards night, the Olympian of the Year Awards, the OCM Hall of Fame, and the Marketing and Sponsorship Programme of OCM.
“He also played a role in the Tan Sri Alex Lee Athlete’s Education Fund, the OCM Trust Fund, the ‘B Category’ fund, reimbursement policy for participation in multi-sport games, and many others,” he added.
Norza said he is honoured to have personally inducted Sieh into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2019.
“The passing of Kok Chi is indeed a great loss to the sporting fraternity and the Olympic movement in Malaysia but his spirit and immense drive to our cause will continue to inspire all of us for a lifetime.
“On behalf of OCM, we wish to express our deepest condolences to his family members and may his soul rest in peace.”
The wake service will be tomorrow (2pm-10pm) and Thursday (12pm-10pm) at Nirvana Centre Kuala Lumpur (Nirvana 2). – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
