KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Amateur Athletics Association (MAAU) will set up and independent committee to manage a RM5 million contribution from Octagon, an international company involved in consulting, marketing solutions and sports events.

The sponsorship is for 10 years whereby MAAU will receive RM500,000 annually beginning next year.

“The aim of setting up an independent committee is to ensure the money, which is in addition to the allocation we get from the National Sports Council (NSC), is effectively used for the benefit of athletes,” MAAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim told reporters here Thursday.

He said the committee would have representation from the union, the NSC and other stakeholders where athletics is concerned.

Shahidan had earlier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the sponsorship between MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim and Octagon’s Asia representative, Ivan Brixi.

Also present were Octagon’s Malaysia representative, Datuk Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, who is also Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) vice president and OCM honorary secretary, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

– BERNAMA