Two challengers to take on NAAM president Yazid at AGM

THE National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) will see a three-way battle for the president’s post at their annual general meeting at Kampung Pandan Sports Complex tomorrow.

Deputy defence minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum and former NAAM honorary secretary Mej (rtd) Baharuddin Jamil have been nominated to take on incumbent president Yazid Yahya.

The Kedah Archery Association (KAA), one of five NAAM affiliates originally barred from attending the meeting, nominated Johari in a bid to oust Yazid from office.

“We believe that nominating Datuk Seri Johari for the president’s post is the right move due to his experience in leading sports associations in the past,” said KAA president Datuk Hamid Hasan yesterday.

“If he is elected, we hope he can raise the level of Malaysian archery and NAAM to where it once was.”

Jamil has a wealth of experience in archery having been involved in the sport for over 20 years, including serving as honorary vice-president of World Archery Asia and the board of justice and ethics of World Archery.

NAAM had been faced with a revolt after the Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Perlis and Terengganu associations and the Malaysian Universities Sports Council were threatened with suspension.

The suspension threat stemmed from the failure of the five affiliates to attend last year’s annual general meeting in August.

They had all attended the first meeting in May which the Sports Commissioner's Office subsequently annulled, leading to the second meeting in August.

NAAM agreed to revoke the suspension notices in February following arbitration by the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

Ahmad Zaini and Zainal Bidin are vying to replace Chong Yap Jin as deputy president while incumbent Tok Hashim Sarudin will be challenged by Shamsuldin Ibrahim, Zamzaini Zolkeffi and Johari Abu Bakar for three vicepresident positions.