In a "stunning show of their disapproval," the Malaysian Athletic Union affiliates rang in the changes by drumming out incumbent President SERI SHAHIDAN KASSIM and his "controversial deputy," KARIM IBRAHIM. On Sunday, the 15 affiliates voted in ZAINAL ABIDIN AHMAD as the new president. The 71-year-old Negeri Sembilan AA president received 23 votes, two more than Shahidan. Terengganu AA President WAN HISYAM WAN SALLEH was elected the new deputy president. He received 25 votes while Karim received 19. The elected VPs are K. YOGASVERAN, PAIMAN ABDUL KARIM, R. ANNAMALAI and PADUKA MUMTAZ JAAFAR (THE STAR, 9/24). THE STAR also opined that the newly elected president "faces a stiff challenge in lifting the battered image" of the association and the sport. Zainal is looking forward to "repairing the damage done to the sport in recent years." Zainal said, "I will have to deliver now that the baton has been passed to me. I don’t have a magic wand but I have a good track record as an athlete and official"(THE STAR, 9/24).
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