Wednesday August 18, 2010
MCA president lauds association for promoting sports and cultural events
By CHITRA S. NATHAN
metro@thestar.com.my
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has commended the Negri Sembilan Chin Woo Athletic Association for promoting sports and cultural events.
“I hope the association, through its many sporting and cultural activities, continues to contribute to society and our nation,” he told an audience of almost 1,000 people at the Chung Hua High School in Seremban on Monday.
The association is the second oldest in the country and has some 1,000 members, including students from 40 schools statewide.
In action: Wushu athletes performing during the anniversary celebration. Association president Chong Kim Fatt said the association was started to promote wushu, a Chinese martial art, not just for self-defence but as an activity with health benefits.
Chong said wushu, although rooted in Chinese culture, could be practised by anyone regardless of race or religion.
“We hope to get more people involved in this sport. At the moment, we have a few Malay and Indian students in our association.
He said wushu was now practised in more than 100 countries in the International Wushu Federation.
Chong said the first national inter-school wushu championship would be held in Seremban next month attesting to the association’s efforts in promoting the sport.
Thank you: Chua (right) receiving a token of appreciation from Chong (centre). With them is Kee. “Negri Sembilan was the first state to organise an inter-school wushu competition a few years ago and this was thanks to the support and cooperation we received from the state government.
“Now, we will be hosting our first national meet with more than 1,000 athletes from 12 states taking part,” he said, adding that the association’s wushu athletes had represented the state and country at national and international meets.
Guests at the function were treated to a dinner and entertainment with Chinese drum performances and wushu displays throughout the four-hour event.
This year also marks the association’s centennary celebration.
The movement was founded a century ago in Shanghai by grandmaster Huo Yuanjia to promote wushu as an art form under a common banner.
Since its establishment, the movement has spread its wings across the globe and there are now 19 branches in Malaysia.
Also present at the event was Malaysian Wushu Federation president Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee.
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