Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Sports icon Hamzah Abu Samah passes away


National sports icon and the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s honorary life president Hamzah Abu Samah passed away at 3.30pm today at the University Malaya Medical Centre, due to old age.

The death of Hamzah, 88, was confirmed by his wife Zainon Hussain when contacted by Bernama today.

Apart from being a cabinet minister heading various ministries until his decision to quit in September 1980, Hamzah was the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1976 to 1998; vice-president of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (1985-1994); vice-president of the General Association of the Asian Sports Federation (1988-1998); vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1986); vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (1982-1998); and honorary life president of the Southeast Asian Games Federation since 1977.

He was also president of the Football Association of Malaysia (1976-1983); honorary president of the Football Association of Malaysia since 1983; president of the Asian Football Confederation (1978-1994); honorary president of the Asian Football Confederation since 1994; vice-president of FIFA (1982-1990); honorary executive member of FIFA since 1990; president of the Malaysian Cricket Association (1969-1990); and president of the Malaysia Taekwondo Association (1987-1999).

He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1978 to 2004 and was appointed honorary member since 2004.


Source- Bernama

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