KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman and cycling athlete Azizulhasni Awang have met and settled the ‘road bike’ issue amicably.
Both sides met on a positive note last night and discussed various matters in sports development for the good of the state and its athletes.
Ahmad Razif told Bernama when contacted here today, that he was thankful that the issue which stemmed from a misunderstanding had been resolved.
Two other Terengganu athletes, Fatehah Mustapa (cycling) and Hafifi Mansor (weightlifting) were also present at the two-hour meeting held at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
Azizul who won a bronze medal in the Keirin event at the Rio Olympics, had earlier claimed in his Facebook, ‘Jojo Knoxville’, that the menteri besar had not bothered to entertain his and Fatehah’s request for funds to buy road bikes for their preparation to Rio.
Ahmad Razif later responded in a statement that he was totally unaware of the request and could not recall being contacted by Azizulhasni’s manager.
He then instructed the State Sports Council to investigate Azizulhasni’s claim.
The menteri besar also asserted in his Facebook that he had never neglected the youth in Terengganu and perceived the road bike issue to be “a mistake made by both sides.”
“During dinner last night, I shared what was in my heart with Fatehah, Azizulhasni and Hafifi and I also hear out their laments, about the trials they had to go through and their experience before reaching their present level.
“InsyaAllah, we will fulfill our promise to open a gallery to exhibit the achievements of Terengganu’s children including the three of them so that the future generation would learn of their contribution to the state,” he said.
Earlier, Ahmad Razif announced that Azizulhasni would receive a certain incentive for his Rio win. The state government has also lined up various programmes including a roadshow for the athlete’s return to Terengganu. The ‘Pocket Rocket Man’ would also be immortalised in the state museum as a hero in sports excellence. --Bernama