Golf tourney for charity-The Star, Wednesday, 24 May 2006


THE late Tunku Abdul Rahman was not only a great statesman but also an outstanding sportsman and Malaysians of all walks of life will not easily forget the contribution he made to the development of sports in the country, particularly to soccer and golf.

In the early 1960s, the late Tunku regularly played golf with his Cabinet colleagues and members of the Diplomatic Corps, either at the Royal Selangor Golf Club (then SGC) or at the Cameron Highlands Golf Course.

In fact, Tunku’s love for the game knew no bounds, which is why his memory still lives on in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Charity Memorial Golf Tournament, which is held every two years.

The inaugural Charity Memorial Golf tournament was held in 1995 at the Tunku Jaafar Golf and Country Resort in Negeri Sembilan where more than 100 golfers took part, including the then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Jaafar.

This year, the tournament is in its sixth edition and will be held at Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS) on August 19.

Dr Majid (centre) with committee members (from left) Peter Chua, Winnie Chok, Datuk Zubir Ali and Danny Ang discussing the tournament at a meeting.

Organising committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Majid Ismail said KGNS, which was known in the past by other names such as the Sungei Way Golf Course and the Kelab Golf Kebangsaan Subang, was the brainchild of the late Tunku,

“It was he who conceived the idea of building a golf course at the site of the former Seaport Estate. And unlike the fifth edition, this year’s tournament has special significance because it will be a farewell tournament for the present King,” said Dr Majid.

He said apart from the King, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo have been invited to participate.

“We are still in the early stages of preparation. However we expect a full flight of 120 golfers,” said Dr Majid.

He said, as in previous tournaments, the committee hopes to raise RM100,000 which will benefit four charitable organisations – Rumah Amal Cahaya Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Tasputra Perkim, Arthritis Foundation of Malaysia and the St Nicholas Home for the Blind in Penang.

The closing date for registration is August 1. For details, call Masoba at 03-7982 8022.

Source: TheStar