KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh believes Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail’s extensive experience in sports administration will be invaluable in safeguarding the welfare of former national athletes in his new role as chairman of the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb).
“I have appointed him because of his experience regarding athletes in the country. I have also appointed other former athletes to help him out,” she said, according to Bernama.
“With the new leadership in place, I wish to thank (former Yakeb chairman) Datuk Noorul (Ariffin Abdul Majeed) for his services. I believe the good measures put in place by Datuk Noorul will be maintained by Datuk Ahmad Shapawi.”
She made these remarks after officiating the launch of the Pickleball Stadium at the Kenanga Wholesale City Fashion Mall here, today.
Shapawi, the former director-general of the National Sports Council (NSC), was officially appointed on Sunday to succeed Noorul Ariffin, who had led Yakeb since 2019.
He will be supported by the Yakeb board of directors for the 2025-2027 term, which includes Hafiz Mat Ramly (principal assistant secretary, Finance Ministry), Chan Hong Jin (deputy secretary-general [strategic], Youth and Sports Ministry), and Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim (director, National Sports Institute).
Other board members include Normala Abdul Rashid (former national footballer and president of Srikandi Sports and Charity Club), Sharon Wee Ee Li (former national squash player and vice-president 1 of the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia), R. Sharmendran (former national karate exponent and acting head coach of the national karate squad), and former national shuttler Soo Beng Kiang. — March 10, 2025