All eyes will be on the fight for the secretary’s post at the Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPM) elections to be held tomorrow.
The long postponed MPM Annual General Meeting is set to endorse the election of Dato Sri Megat D Shariman unopposed as the president, but there would still be contests for the Honorary Secretary, Vice President and Council Members positions
The straight fight between Laksamana Pertama (R) Dato’ Subramaniam Raman and Irene Chang for the post of Honorary Secretary could decide whether the protracted fight between two rival factions would continue after the elections.
The AGM was originally slated to be held on June 29, but was postponed after protests made by some of those whose nominations were rejected due to late submissions.
Former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and incumbent deputy president were among five whose nominations were rejected during the AGM as it was not filed before the prescribed deadline. Due to protests made over the issue, the AGM was postponed.
Between then and now, there were two failed efforts to call for an EGM to reinstate the late nominations, a court filing seeking an injunction on the matter, complaints lodged with the Sports Commissioner, three of the nominees withdrawing their candidature as well as the incumbent secretary Siti Zaharah being removed from her position.
READ MORE: MPM SETS AGM DATE, MEGAT TO TAKE OVER PRESIDENCY
Just over three weeks ago, in a surprise move the outgoing president SM Nasarudin issued a notice calling for the AGM and confirming that the rejection of the late nominations would stand.
The decisions shuts the doors on both Khairy and John Ng from contesting. Megat, representing the Malaysia Canoe Association, being the only qualified nominee for the post of president, barring any last minute surprise would take over the presidency.
With John Ng disqualified, Dr Radha Krishnan from the Malaysia Blind Sports Association, will be the sole nominee for the deputy president’s post.
The position of secretary is being closely watched by many.
Subramaniam is aligned with Megat and it would be interesting to see how the delegates would vote, to give the new president someone he trusts to implement his vision or vote in Irene as a counter measure.
Based on the number of affiliates that had voted on the proposal to call for an EGM, it is going to be a close affair. The earlier call to conduct the EGM to allow the candidature of late nominees was rejected by 11 affiliates and supported by 10. The three affiliates that abstained then, are likely to decide the outcome at the AGM tomorrow.
Four candidates will vie for the three vice president’s posts. They are Hadfizah Abd Khafidz, K M Rajendran, Muhd Iqbal Sulaiman and Dr Ang Kean Koo.
Mejar Azhari Abdullah and Noor Syahieda Mat Shah will fill up the two other vice president’s post representing the disabled and women respectively as per the MPM constitution.
Kumarasamy Sithambaram is the sole nominee for the treasurers post.
The end to the imbroglio would be timely as Malaysia prepares for the ASEAN Para Games scheduled to be held next month in the Philippines.
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