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Cycling body backs Abu Samah as head amid court case

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Council members passed a unanimous vote in support of his leadership yesterday.

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Abu Samah Wahab has been charged with using his position as MNCF president to solicit bribes. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:
Despite being embroiled in a court case, Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Abu Samah Wahab still has the confidence of council members to lead the federation.

MNCF vice-president Amarjit Singh said yesterday’s council meeting saw its 16 members pass a unanimous vote in full support of Abu Samah’s leadership. He has been president since Feb 26, 1990.

Amarjit explained that he submitted a motion of confidence in Abu Samah and was supported by MNCF deputy president Yunus Ibrahim and council member from Kedah, Zaim Ahmad, to ensure that the court case would not disrupt the leadership of the association.

“The decision ended with all council members unanimously supporting Abu Samah to continue with his duties as president until the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) trial is over.

“We fully support and respect Abu Samah, who has done so much for MNCF. Let the court process take its course,” he said in a statement issued by MNCF.

Amarjit added that since 2020, the MACC had called almost all executive council members to provide statements into the investigation.

Meanwhile, Yunus said MNCF needed Abu Samah’s leadership as they would be organising several big tournaments, including the 2022 Asian BMX Cycling Championship in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

“The tournament will be held this August, so it would be good if we could allow all these tournaments to run smoothly without any issues,” he said.

Abu Samah, who is also the president of the Asean Cycling Association (ACA), pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh sessions court in Melaka yesterday to two charges of abusing his post.

Abu Samah, 81, has been charged with using his position as MNCF president to solicit bribes when he picked a company co-owned by himself and his children, namely Syarikat Harapan Baiduri Sdn Bhd, to provide rental of logistics vehicles at RM12,750 through 13 payment vouchers from 2013 to 2018.

Abu Samah was also charged with the same offence involving a company co-owned by himself and his siblings, namely Syarikat Keluarga Haji Wahab Hassan Sdn Bhd to provide homestay rental for cycling athletes with a fee of RM36,061.85 through 32 payment vouchers from 2013 to 2018.

He is accused of committing both offences at the MNCF office in Melaka Tengah between 2013 and 2019.

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