KUALA LUMPUR – Perak Hockey Association (PHA) president Datuk Sayuti Samat has dismissed allegations of electoral irregularities and financial mismanagement, insisting the recent annual general meeting (AGM) was held in line with directives from the Sports Commissioner’s Office.
Speaking to Scoop, Sayuti described the claims — including suggestions that the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was delayed due to insufficient funds — as baseless, politically motivated, and an attempt to undermine his leadership.
Controversy erupted following the July 7 AGM, when several parties questioned the eligibility of district affiliates to vote, claiming that some were inactive or improperly registered.
Sayuti, however, maintained that the AGM adhered strictly to a directive from the Sports Commissioner.
“Certain quarters are claiming Kerian and Kinta are defunct, but that’s not true. Even if they were, they should have written in to reactivate. My association went through the same, but we were never asked for a letter, and we’re still here,” he said.
“We based our AGM on a letter from the Sports Commissioner. Whether active or not, everyone was allowed to take part. That letter came before the AGM — we didn’t act on our own.”
He alleged that the dispute was being stirred up by individuals from Kinta, whom he described as habitual troublemakers.
“This issue was stirred up by Kinta. He’s always causing trouble. But now, the current line-up is solid — none of them are from the old group. It’s easier to work this way.”
Responding to claims that the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup had been delayed due to funding issues, Sayuti clarified that the tournament — now set for November — was rescheduled by Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah himself.
“Some are saying we don’t have enough funds to organise the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, but that’s completely untrue. When I took over, the account was nearly empty. After the first tournament, we turned things around and created a healthy surplus. Even now, our finances are strong.”
“The November date wasn’t a delay because of money — it was fixed by Tuanku himself, in conjunction with his birthday. It has nothing to do with financial issues.”
Sayuti emphasised that the Cup is managed through a separate account, audited under palace oversight.
“They don’t realise the Azlan Shah account is audited and managed with palace oversight. You can’t simply touch the funds. The signatories include palace representatives. It’s not PHA’s account.”
“I’ve got nothing to hide. Let them allege what they want — we’ve got the records to prove we’re doing honest work. Even the palace was shocked with the surplus we created. That’s never happened before.”
He added that the executive committee would be briefed on tournament preparations at their next meeting, reiterating that the association’s financial standing remained sound.
When asked whether he expected further allegations, Sayuti remained unfazed.
“We work honestly. People can talk, but at the end of the day, we’re here to serve hockey and keep it growing in Perak.”
Meanwhile, Kinta Hockey Association president Tamil Selvam, who brought the allegations to Scoop, questioned the voting process during the AGM.
“Kerian was a defunct district. Under our constitution, they must reapply before being allowed to vote — but that didn’t happen. Yet they voted, and that made the difference,” Tamil claimed.
He also raised concerns about two other districts — Muallim and LMS (Larut, Matang and Selama) — saying they were still under pro-tem status.
“If those three districts had been excluded, the outcome would’ve been very different. The election wasn’t fair.”
Tamil further alleged financial opacity within PHA: “A lot of spending has been done without exco approval, and members are left in the dark.” – July 17, 2025
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