Aug 15 - D-Day for SAM

I wish to urge existing members of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) to attend Saturday's annual general meeting not only to elect a new set of office-bearers but also to show that the fraternity is indeed united in the need to revive a once-respected NGO. Those who have yet to register as members can do so ahead of the meeting at 3.0pm to be held at the Wisma OCM and are entitled to vote. Exercise your right!

Berita Harian's Ahmad Khawari Isa is challenging TV3's Abu Bakar Atan for the presidency. Two key posts are uncontested as Ibrahim Abu Bakar, a former tennis official and radio sports commentator, was the sole candidate as deputy president while the new secretary is Rahim Lajis, whose status at Utusan Malaysia is vague.

Rahim, 48, was a sports journalist at Berita Harian and covered the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi alongside the then sports editor, Zainuddin Bendahara. A youth goalkeeper for Malacca, he left BH in 1989 to pursue law before joining Utusan Malaysia in 1991. Apparently now stationed at the Umno HQ, his last designation at Utusan was assistant editor.

Kampung Baru-born and bred Ibrahim, 68, was a match official at the Australian Open in 1988 and was team manager of the Malaysian tennis team to the SEA Games in 1977, 1985 and 1997.

Rahim Lajis and Ibrahim Abu Bakar won their posts uncontested

Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood (left) of RTM and Asan Ahmad, Kosmo!'s sports editor, are vying for the vice-presidency

Yu Nee Kong may or may not cast his vote for Alimi on Saturday...

The Star's Eric Samuel and Kosmo!'s Asan Ahmad are vying for the vice-presidency with incumbent RTM's Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood for the two seats.

The key in reviving SAM is the co-operation and understanding from the sports editors from the various media houses, particularly the Star and the New Straits Times.

SAM those days was driven by mainly sportswriters from Jalan Riong. A pity that sports editors of major newspapers, with the exception of a few, give scant regard to SAM these days.