MASTAF gives 14 days to PSM affiliates to come on board

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) --The Malaysian Sepaktakraw Federation (MASTAF) has once again invited any state association or associate members under the auspices of the Malaysian Sepaktakraw Association (PSM) to join them.

Its president Datuk Suhaili Abd Rahman said MASTAF was the governing body of the sport in the country which was recognised by the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) and the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) and was an affiliate member of both federations.

He said all the associations and associate members under PSM were given a period of 14 days from today to join MASTAF.

“If they do not take this invitation seriously, then we will set up pro-tem associations in the states in the name of MASTAF, for example MASTAF Labuan, MASTAF Melaka and MASTAF Penang.

"This is among the matters decided and will be refined before implementation," he told a press conference after chairing the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MASTAF here today.

He said the opportunity to join MASTAF, previously known as the Malaysian Sepaktakraw Confederation (MSC), had been given since the inception of the parent body last February.

However, he said that despite joining the MSC at that time, they (PSM affiliates and associate members) had raised various arguments to the point of questioning the Sports Commissioner's action on the approval of the establishment of the new parent body (MSC which is now known as MASTAF).

“So that is a fairly large chance we have shared. If they do not accept, then we will set up our own associations because we cannot let sepak takraw associations or sepak takraw to die just because there is a conflict between us,” he said.

Recently, the Kedah State Sepak Takraw Association (PESTAK) rejoined PSM led by Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan after deciding to leave MASTAF last month.

It saw PSM now have 15 delegates comprising 11 affiliate members and four associate members while MASTAF has only six, namely five affiliate members and one associate member.

For the record, the rebranding of the MSC to MASTAF was done to meet the pre-conditions set by ISTAF towards recognising them as an affiliate member, effective last April.

-- BERNAMA