KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Former National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail is coming out of 'retirement' to contest for the Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) presidency.
Ahmad Shapawi confirmed this when contacted by Bernama today, stating that his nomination was proposed by PCM affiliates, the Badminton Association of Malaysia and the Malaysia Canoe Association.
“I am contesting for the PCM presidency not just as an individual but as part of a team, responding to the requests of PCM affiliates who have endorsed our intention.
"I also aim to bring about changes in PCM’s leadership. From what I observe, the decisions made by the current leadership do not reflect the true stance of its affiliate members, which has raised concerns among them,” he said.
Earlier, Ahmad Shapawi’s name had been linked to the PCM president's post, which will be contested at the council’s annual general meeting scheduled for Dec 14.
The incumbent president, Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, is expected to defend his post.
Ahmad Shapawi said if elected, he would strengthen the governance of affiliate members in line with PCM’s governance framework.
He said the aim is to assist PCM’s affiliate members in the development of their respective sports at the domestic level, in line with the recognition granted by the Sports Commissioner (PJS) as a registered sports body under the Sports Development Act 1997.
“We will also play a more aggressive role in international relations, particularly at the Southeast Asian level, especially since we were the main driving force behind the establishment of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF), and previously at the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).
“We will also strive to foster better relations with other sports bodies, particularly the Olympic Council of Malaysia, to learn from their successful methods and actions guided by the Olympic Charter. We need to learn from the experts,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
