Association intends to run Civic Centre gym to help former bodybuilders

PERTEMUAN dua bekas jaguh bina badan negara, Datuk Malek Noor (kanan) yang menziarahi Encik Bujang Taha yang rumahnya musnah dalam kebakaran baru-baru ini, di Kampung Tanjung, dekat Petra Jaya, Kuching, 13 Feb.


Kebakaran yang memusnahkan rumah bekas jaguh bina badan negara, Encik Bujang Taha dan jiran nya yang juga rumah ibu bapa rakan sekerja saya begitu menyayat hati dan menyedihkan. Pada ketika itu hari selasa yang lepas, jam hampir 3 petang dalam kesibukan di pejabat. Tetiba, rakan sekerja saya menerima satu panggilan yang amat mengejutkan. Dan beliau pun bergegas balik ke kampung rumah ibu bapanya.

Tiada harta benda yang dapat diselamatkan. Cuma, rakusnya api memusnahkan kedua rumah yang hampir antara satu sama lain tersebut. Pada hari Jumaat malam yang lepas, saya berkesempatan untuk menghadiri majlis doa selamat khas untuk kedua belah keluarga yang terlibat. Saya dapat mendengar luahan kata-kata dari Encik Bujang Taha yang ingin meneruskan kembali sisa-sisa kehidupan nya dengan membina rumah yang baru.

Memang begitu sukar untuk melupakan peristiwa tersebut. Diharap semoga mereka tetap tabah dan sabar dalam mengharungi masa yang mendatang.




Petikan dari The Star, 14/02/2011..:-

KUCHING: Sarawak Bodybuilding Association wants to run the Sarawak State Sports Council gym here in a move to create job opportunities for former bodybuilders.

Its president Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the association had submitted its intention to Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Seri William Mawan Ikom last month.

If agreed, state athletes would be allowed to use the gym at the Civic Centre here for free while the public would be charged a nominal fee for maintenance and future youth development programmes, he said.

“We hope the government would allow us to run the gym so that we can generate some revenue to train more youths in bodybuilding and weightlifting for future state, national and international-level competitions.

“At the same time, the association hopes to create some job opportunities for former bodybuilders as personal trainers or coaches for these youngsters,” he said on Friday.

Wee said it was high time the government looked into giving due recognition to the association, which was formed in 1963, and bodybuilders who had made Sarawak proud for winning coveted titles like Mr Asia and Mr Malaysia in the past.

He said the welfare of former athletes were often neglected and therefore, the association hoped to engage them if given the opportunity to run the gym.

Citing an example, he said former Mr Asia (1980, 1982, 1983 and 1986) and SEA Games two-time gold medallist Bujang Taha became a hawker after retiring as a labourer from a government department some 20 years ago.

He said the government seemed to only remember Bujang and come to his aid after his home at Kampung Tanjung was burnt down last week.

“So we want a place where our athletes can train and at the same time, former athletes can make a living out of it.”

Wee said the association would ensure that its proposed venture would reap harvest and bring back the glory days of bodybuilding to Sarawak and Malaysia.

“The last time we won Mr Asia was in 2000 through Liaw Teck Leong while Mr Malaysia, more than 10 years ago.

“We’ll win back Mr Malaysia and Mr Asia titles and other international titles. It’s not easy but if we have the will, we can do it. We can promise the government that revenue generated from the gym will be justified,” he said.

He pointed out that the recent victory in Mr Borneo 2010 was an indication that the association and its athletes were moving on the right track.

He feared that Sarawak would lose many potential athletes if the government was non-committal in the sport.

“Some states are trying to pinch our athletes by giving better allowances and perks. Bodybuilding is an expensive sport because protein supplements are costly and this can be a burden to athletes from the middle-income group,” he explained.

“When athletes win for the state and country, give them due recognition in kind - we’re not asking for datukship or a house. Our athletes deserve basic respect from the society,” Wee added.