KOTA KINABALU: A high-powered committee has been formed to assist the ailing and financially strapped Sabah Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) in its preparation for the 9th Malaysia Games (Sukma), which is just round the corner.

Through his tremendous track record and overall connection, SAAA and its Sukma organising committee for track and field, has approached Datuk Sari Suhut for his assistance in raising fund for its coaches, officials and athletes' training.

SAAA president Haji Dahlan Haji Tengah told New Sabah Times yesterday, they decided to approach Sari, a businessman and also the Deputy Chairman of STPC for help based from his experienced and capabilities in organising fund raising projects.

Sari, who is also the president of Sabah Lawn Bowl Association (SLBA), has willingly agreed to assist SAAA to raise fund through a 2-day charity gold competition, scheduled for July 20-21 at the Karambunai Resort Golf Club.

Apart from Dahlan, his deputy president and other members, through his connection, Sari has also invited a strong team of hard working and unselfish officials to be in the golf tournament organising committee.

There are Yeo Boon Hai of the State Public Service Department, Alliuddin Jumat of Bank Bumiputra Commerce (Ex-athlete), Abdul Rahman Mohd Tahir of PSC, Athmat Hassan of the State Attorney General office, Mahmud Awang Hussein of the Ministry of Finance, Robin Loh of Nexus Karambunai.

After chairing the meeting yesterday, Sari and his committee members who are non-members of SAAA said, though they are not in SAAA, their willingness to assist was purely for the sake of the athletes and most important is for Sabah, who is the host to the Sukma for the first time.

"I have no objections after SAAA officials approached me to help them in raising fund for their preparation, and upon acceptance, I immediately round up all my friends in the public and private sectors to be part of the fund raising committee," he said.

"I wish to thank all of them who were also willingly accepted my invitation, where by now, we have secured attractive prizes to lure as many golfers to participate in the 2-day competition for the sake of our state athletes campaign."

Sari also wish to thank Wong Kwok Group for their sponsorship of an apartment at Melinsung, KMA for an Isuzu Invader, Dapan Holdings for their one year free membership at Karambunai Resort Golf Club and two discounted vouchers worth RM120, 000 (RM60, 000 each) to purchase a property from any registered housing developers.

All these attractive prizes are for grabs for those who strike an ace of hole-in-one during the tournament, where they have also secured sponsorships from some individuals and the private sectors such as New Sabah Times, Diriwan Sdn Bhd and Sandakan Turf Club to name a few.

They are expecting a total of 400 golfers to participate in the tournament, where the entrance fee has been set at RM1200 per-flight (4 players) and the proceed would be utilised by SAAA to prepare its athletes for the Sukma.

Sari added, the Finance Minister Datuk Musa Aman, who is also the Bapa Angkat for athletics in this coming Sukma has endorsed the fund-raising project and Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin is the adviser to the organising committee.