KUALA LUMPUR – In a significant development for the sport of lawn bowls, Malaysia and Australia have taken a step in fostering a stronger partnership in the development of the sport, culminating in the signing of a commercial memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Henselite Australia and the Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF).
The MoU is to significantly deepen and expand the development of the sport in Malaysia, and cement the country as a hub for the growth of the sport in Asia.
MLBF president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz said that relatively, the sport of lawn bowls is new to Malaysians and the growth potential is immense.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with Henselite to intensify the interest of the Malaysian sports fraternity through lawn bowls sports events around the country and strengthening the athlete-development programmes,” he said.
At the same time, owner and chairman of Henselite Australia, Ian Paterson, said that this collaboration signifies a new chapter for the 100-year-old family company.
“Henselite is proud to work with the MLBF as we believe in the potential of lawn bowls to transcend borders and become a sport that unites communities.”
Paterson added that the MoU provides Henselite with a solid platform to extend its work and contribute to the expansion of lawn bowls across Asia.
Lawn bowls, a sport known for its precision, strategy and camaraderie, has been steadily gaining popularity globally, and the collaboration between Australia and Malaysia marks a pivotal moment in the growth of the sport in the Asia-Pacific region.
One of the highlights of the partnership is the emphasis on inclusivity within the sport. Lawn bowls has a unique ability to bring people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities together. This collaboration aims to amplify the inclusive nature of the sport and encourage greater participation from diverse communities in both Australia and Malaysia.
The Australian-Malaysian partnership in lawn bowls, and the broader sports agreement between the two countries, is a testament to the power of sports diplomacy in facilitating people-to-people contact, trade and investment opportunities, and the provision of healthy lifestyle sports for ageing populations, people with disabilities and families.
The signing of the MoU, which took place at the City of Melbourne Bowls Club, was witnessed by Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
This MoU comes at the same time Australia and Malaysia are to sign a bilateral agreement around sports cooperation during the Asean-Australia Special Summit, currently being held in Melbourne with leaders from across the region. – March 4, 2024