Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian leaders are remembering the late AFC President Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah as both a great statesman and leader in the national and world sports arena.
Tan Sri Hamzah passed away on Tuesday in the Malaysian capital at the University Malaya Medical Centre due to natural causes. He was 88 years old.
Tan Sri Hamzah served as the President of AFC from 1978 until 1994 as well as helming the Football Association of Malaysia from 1976 until 1983. He was a FIFA Vice-President from 1982 until 1990.
He also served as a member of the International Olympic Council from 1978 until 2004, President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (1976-1998) and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1986).
The Pahang state-born Tan Sri Hamzah was also Malaysian Sports Minister from 1971-1973, Defence Minister (1973), Minister of Law (1974) and Chief Justice.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has described the demise of Tan Sri Hamzah as a big loss to the nation, especially the sports fraternity.
“He is a revered figure in sports and headed such high-profile associations like the Football Association of Malaysia, Asian Football Confederation and the Olympic Council of Malaysia," the Malaysian Digest reported him as saying.
Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has described the late Tan Sri Hamzah as an iconic leader who had hoisted the country's sports development.
“His demise will leave a vacuum in the country, especially in the field of sports because he had made immense contribution to bring about development in sports,” Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama quoted him as saying.
Bernama also says in its report: “They (administrators, critics) were unanimous in acknowledging that the late Hamzah was a shrewd administrator and that his capabilities were acknowledged not only in the country but by international sports bodies.”
Sports critic Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim has said that Tan Sri Hamzah was not only a capable administrator but a leader who was well accepted and liked by the people.
“He was a much respected man and helped people in need. He was always humble and never one who will lose his patience,” he was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insider.
“He was a much respected man and helped people in need. He was always humble and never one who will lose his patience,” he further said.
Malaysia’s National Sports Council (NSC) Director-General Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong, meanwhile, has said: "His passing is a huge loss for Malaysian sports. During his lifetime, Tan Sri Hamzah was an influential figure in the sports world.
"He was also highly respected locally and worldwide. His loss is also very sentimental for the NSC because it was through him that the NSC was created," he told Bernama.
Funeral prayers for the late Tan Sri Hamzah will be carried out at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday afternoon.