MAN OF MYSTERY

Muthu keeps low profile despite going for MAF top post

MALAYSIAN Athletics Federation (MAF) deputy president Datuk S.M. Muthu (pic) is either media shy or is supremely confident that he will topple his president in tomorrow’s elections.

Muthu, a scrap metal businessman, will challenge two-term president and former best friend Datuk Karim Ibrahim after an amazing turn of cloak and dagger events, including a poison pen letter and smear campaign via WhatsApp.

When contacted yesterday, Muthu declined to be interviewed.

Journalist: Hello, Datuk Muthu.

Muthu: Yes.

Journalist: Hi Datuk, I would like to ask a few questions regarding Sunday’s (tomorrow) MAF elections.

Muthu: I am driving.

Journalist: Can I call you back later, Datuk?

Muthu: Don’t call me... toot.. toot..

His retort is amazing. Normally, officials who are standing for elections will always have something to say about their campaign.

But not Muthu.

Karim claimed on Thursday that he was the one who brought Muthu into the MAF two elections ago. Both were buddies who challenged and won the MAF hot seats in 2014 before being returned unopposed in 2016, but now find themselves locking horns in their third attempt.

“I am the one who brought Selangor (AA) president Muthu into MAF and we were good friends right up to the day before nominations closed.

“I had asked Muthu about the rumours that he would be challenging me for the president’s post but he denied, and I left it at that.

“Imagine my disappointment when the nominations were read out the next day, and Muthu was my only challenger. After that, he never returned my text messages or calls,” said Karim.

Muthu was nominated by Selangor and Perlis. He was also nominated for the deputy president’s post but declined.

Karim received three nominations from Perak, Kelantan and Malacca.

Muthu is so elusive that seasoned journalists have only had rare sightings of him over the last three years and most do not have his contact number.

The deputy president’s post will be a battle between Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar and Datuk Shahidan Kassim.

M. Iyaru, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad, Mohamad Awang, V. Mathivanan, William Ling, Datuk R. Annamalai, Fadzil Abu Bakar and Josephine Kang are vying for the four vice-presidents’ posts.

Thirteen affiliates, with Sabah de-registered, will have three votes each to decide the future of MAF tomorrow.