Razak continues to support national team at 81

ABDUL Razak Hitam (pic) lost both his lower limbs to diabetes last year.

But that hasn’t stopped the 81-yearold pioneer member of the Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) from supporting the national team at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

The former deputy president of MLBF was instrumental in putting lawn bowls on the world map with then president Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid in the early 1990s.

Razak, an architect by profession, was active in golf before switching to lawn bowls.

“Fortunately, after the amputation I was like ‘normal’. My son (Azmil) helps me around. I’m glad that lawn bowls has continued to make headway on the international scene,” said Razak, who had acquired his knowledge of lawn bowls during study tours to England, South Africa, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand.

Razak was appointed chairman of the lawn bowls technical committee at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysia won a silver and two bronzes.

Malaysia have since gone on to win numerous accolades at various levels – SEA Games, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Among the top singles players who have tasted success at the world meet are Safuan Said (2008 World Bowls), Mohd Hizlee Abdul Rais (2012 World Champion of Champions), Siti Zalina Ahmad (2015 World Cup) and Emma Firyana Saroji (2015 World Champion of Champions).

Razak’s son Azmil, who got his International Technical Official (ITO) certificate this year, now heads the lawn bowls secretariat for the KL Games.

“Lawn bowls is in our blood. I will continue to support and push lawn bowls to greater heights,” said Azmil, 53.