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Published: Tuesday September 4, 2012 MYT 6:34:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday September 4, 2012 MYT 9:53:54 PM

Former Cabinet minister and sports icon Hamzah Abu Samah passes away


KUALA LUMPUR: National sports icon and Olympic Council of Malaysia's Honorary Life President Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah (pix) passed away at 3.30pm Tuesday due to old age. He was 88.

Born in Pekan, Pahang in 1924, Hamzah, a Malay College Kuala Kangsar student who pursued a law degree at the Gray's Inn in England in 1953, started his political career as Raub MP (1967-1978) and Temerloh MP (1978-1980).

He was Sports Minister from 1971-1973, Defence Minister (1973) and Minister of Law (1974) and Chief Justice.

During Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Malaysia in 1972, Hamzah was the minister assigned to accompany the queen. He is expected to be buried on Wednesday.

Apart from being a Cabinet minister until his decision to quit in September 1980, Hamzah was the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1976 to 1998; Vice-President of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (1985-1994); Vice-President of the General Association of the Asian Sports Federation (1988-1998); Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1986); Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (1982-1998); Honorary Life President of the Southeast Asian Games Federation since 1977.

He was also President of the Football Association of Malaysia (1976-1983); Honorary President of the Football Association of Malaysia since 1983; President of the Asian Football Confederation (1978-1994); Honorary President of the Asian Football Confederation since 1994; Vice-President of FIFA (1982-1990); Honorary Executive Member of FIFA since 1990; President of the Malaysian Cricket Association (1969-1990); President of the Malaysia Taekwondo Association (1987-1999).

He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1978 to 2004 and was appointed Honorary Member since 2004. - Bernama

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