RM4 million raised for foundation
The Sultan of Johor, cuts the ribbon at the launch of the Laksamana Trophy Charity Golf Tournament at the Els Desaru Coast-Ocean in Kota Tinggi on Saturday. Pic by Mohd Azren Jamaludin THE inaugural Laksamana Trophy Charity Golf Tournament held at the newly-opened Els Desaru CoastOcean golf course in Kota Tinggi raised almost RM4 million for cancer treatment and research.
Weststar Group managing director Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, who was among 120 golfers in 30 flights, was among the biggest contributors in Saturday’s event.
He helped raise RM2.1 million for the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation when he bought a brand new 2017 Harley Davidson Roadking motorcycle, which was auctioned from the collection of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
Sultan Ibrahim simultaneously launched the tournament and opened the 27-hole Els Desaru Coast-Ocean golf course, a facility designed by former World No 1 Ernie Els.
The 24-karat gold Laksamana Trophy was won by a team from Maha Builders comprising Amir Sharifuddin A. Raob, Mohd Ali Mohd Salleh, Normiza Shahman A. Aziz and Sazali Adan. Each player received a crystal trophy.
Media Prima Bhd (MPB) group risk management group general manager Mohd Hisham Shazli and Harian Metro deputy group editor Ahmad @ Salim Bachok also competed.
Organising chairman Tan Sri Esa Mohamed said the amount received for the charity was beyond the committee’s expectation as they were targeting around RM1.5 million.
“This has been a wonderful tournament and the generosity of those participating is highly appreciated,” he said.
Esa said the tournament will be an annual affair at the same golf course.
Syed Azman said the pledge for such a good cause was always part of his company’s corporate social responsibility and he was ever willing to contribute.
He said the Weststar Group pledged RM1 million to the foundation, and it also contributed two Porsche Macans and two Maxus G10 MPVs as prizes for the hole-in-one contest.
Sultan Ibrahim’s son, Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim made the first tee off at 7.30am.
Tunku Abdul Rahman is also the patron of Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA), the organiser of the tournament. MPB is the official media partner for the tournament. By Halim Said