Obituary: Ghazali's legacy remembered

TUN Ghazali Shafie revolutionised athletics during his near three-decade reign as the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) president with the laying of running tracks in almost every state a legacy of his leadership. Ghazali, who presided over the golden years of Malaysian track and field in the 1960s and 1970s, was also a visionary when MAAU became one of the first national associations to formulate a long term development plan.

The plan, which was put in place soon after he was elected president in 1962, led to sustained dominance at the Southeast Asian level while winning honours at Asian level, including a staggering five gold medals at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games.

Malaysian athletes regularly qualified for the Olympic, and Ghazali's departure from the athletics scene in 1989 preceded a decline in the fortunes of the sport from which it has yet to recover.

Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, a sprinter in the 1960s and who later served under Ghazali as an MAAU vice president, said Ghazali's passing at age 88 on Sunday was a great loss to Malaysian athletics.

"He was a legend in his own time. I knew him first as an athlete and then as an office bearer and athletics was his passion.

The late Tun Ghazali Shafie

"In those days, there was no government help for sports and we were left to fend for ourselves but Tun worked tirelessly to raise funds for MAAU's programmes.

"We were the No 2 nation in Asia in 1966 and were Sea Games champions several times. Under his tutelage, care and mentorship, Malaysian athletics enjoyed its golden years," said Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy president Jegathesan, who still holds the 200m national record after 42 years.

In an effort to encourage states to contribute to development, Ghazali made it a point to rotate the National Championships around the country with the laying of a bitumen track a condition to hosting the meet.

Datuk A. Vaithilingam, a former MAAU council member, said Ghazali was also responsible for instituting other changes.

"I knew King Ghaz since 1962 when he took over MAAU. He had full control and democracy was his style, there was discipline, efficiency, transparency and mutual respect.

"He launched a five-year development plan in 1967 and by 1972 all states had qualified coaches and officials.

"Race walking and a competition calendar were introduced at national and state levels while states were urged to streamline their administration.

"All-weather tracks were installed in most states while the Malaysian Schools Sports Council and the Armed Forces were invited to sit on the council.

"His interest in the welfare of athletes was inspiring as he reigned during the height of athletics' excellence in Malaysia," said Vaithilingam.

2010/01/26
Devinder Singh- NST