A DEFIANT Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) council yesterday provided a reserved but confident response that was unanimous in its bid to avoid suspension under the Sports Development Act (1997).
A two-hour meeting at the National Paralympic Centre of Excellence Complex in Kampung Pandan saw the council agreeing on answers to be provided to the Sports Commissioner.
The answer to the show cause letter as to why MNCF should not be suspended will be handed to the Sports Commissioner’s Office before Friday’s deadline.
Following yesterday’s meeting, attended by all 10 executive committee and 12 council members, MNCF president Datuk Abu Samah Wahab stated answers to all nine questions in the show cause letter issued on Aug 22 had been agreed upon.
In the press conference that followed, Abu Samah chose to correct some press reports that centred around funds of about RM1.7 million which the sports ministry channeled to the federation in 2011.
“With regards to this sum, the reports were not accurate.
“And we have shown that there was no money missing as was reported.
“All the funds had been spent, so how can there be money that has gone missing?” said Abu Samah.
He explained that a total of RM17.305 million was received by the federation in 2011, from which RM900,000 was spent on the road team’s preparations for Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), while the remainder went towards the organising of that race.
“Not one sen was lost,” stressed Abu Samah, adding that the funds for the road squad’s preparations went towards purchase of equipment, a training camp in Australia, flight tickets and competitions abroad.
The MNCF is facing suspension following a sports ministry audit report on its accounts between 2011 and last year, which was followed by an investigation by the Sports Advisory Panel (SAP) that found various serious offences in the management of public funds.
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had announced the commencement of the procedure to suspend the MNCF’s registration on Aug 21, following discoveries of various offences, including financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and breaches of fiduciary duties.
Abu Samah’s explanations yesterday were limited to the 2011 funding, while he stated that all queries in the show cause letter will be answered.
“Our council is confident and all of us agree with the answers to be given and that the Sports Commissioner will have no reason to enforce the suspension,” said Abu Samah.