Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah dies of old age

Seremban: National sports icon and the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s Honorary Life President Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah passed away at 3.30pm today (September 4, 2012) at his house in Staffield Country Resort, Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, due to old age.

The death of Hamzah, 88, was confirmed by his second son Zulkelim, 54. Hamzah leaves behind wife Toh Puan Zainon Hussain, who is the sister of the country’s second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, and seven children.

Apart from being a cabinet minister who headed various ministries until his decision to quit in September 1980, Hamzah was the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from (1976-1998); 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.

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 Member of Parliament (1967-1978) and Temerloh (1978-1980).

He was Sports Minister from 1971-1973, Defence Minister (1973) and Minister of Law (1974). During Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Malaysia in 1972, Hamzah was the Minister assigned to accompany the Queen of England. He will laid to rest on September 5, 2012. - Bernama