KUALA LUMPUR – The Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) is in the midst of internal strife as it approaches its annual general meeting (AGM) for the 2024-2026 term.
Tensions are escalating due to a dispute relating to a financial claim from the club’s former president, Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin, who is set to challenge the incumbent president, I. Vikneswaran.
Megat, who is also the Malaysia Paralympic Council president, submitted a financial claim demand letter for RM128,644 to KLHA on December 12.
However, speaking to Scoop, Vikneswaran, who is also the national junior hockey team manager, refuted the claims and added that they needed to be substantiated.
“We have received the letter of demand, but these claims were made under the tenure of the former president (2019-2020).
“Under my tenure, the association has been running many hockey activities without any debts.
“We have always been doing our best to serve the association, the game and the community at large in Kuala Lumpur,” said Vikneswaran.
Meanwhile, Megat countered Vikneswaran’s statement, saying that he has every right to make his claims, and there’s no stipulated deadline for the claims.
“The club was going down the drain before I took over. They were unable to pay the players’ salaries, and a lot of financial issues were going on. I stepped up to solve this issue by using my own money.
“It’s my money, and I have every right to make the claims. It doesn’t matter when I made the claims, but as a reputable association, they should be grateful for the contributions I made to the club.
“There’s no reason for me to make false accusations against them as I have all the transaction documents with me that have been audited. I think the current leadership just can’t handle pressure, as they have also been going through some financial crisis since the day I left the post.
“The new leadership is not fit to run the club as they don’t have any passion for the sport, and they should step down. It’s time for me to take over and bring the club back to its glory days,” said Megat.
Under Vikneswaran’s leadership, KLHA ended their 12-year Tun Abdul Razak Cup title drought, lifting the trophy for the 19th time in the team’s history.
They defeated Melaka 4-2 in a penalty shootout match at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium in October.
KLHA has also won the MHL on nine occasions (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2017).
Previously, Megat was suspended for 18 months from engaging in hockey-related activities after being found to have violated the Malaysian Hockey League tournament code of conduct in November 2020.
The future direction of KLHA hangs in the balance, with both Vikneswaran and Megat vying for the support of the club’s members in what promises to be a contentious and closely watched election. – December 23, 2023