PRESS STATEMENT
Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) Media Statement on the election of the New
President of ASTAF, Abdul Halim Kader from Singapore for the term 2021 to 2025.

The ASTAF Congress Election was conducted successfully on 1 March 2021 throughZoom due to the Covid19 pandemic. Incumbent President Abdul Halim Kader secured
a landslide 30 votes from representative members with his 2 challengers Dato Seri
Ahmad Ismail, President of Malaysia Sepaktakraw Federation (PSM) and Mr Mohd
Nasri Haron, President of Singapore Sepaktakraw Federation (PERSES); both failedto secure any votes from the participating country members.

This is the first time that Abdul Halim Kader was facing a contest for the President’s
position since he helmed ASTAF since 2004. Notwithstanding the contest by the twochallengers, his popularity amongst the ASTAF member countries remains strong
resulting in the resounding victory, a testament to his dedication and his passion for
Sepaktakraw.

Abdul Halim Kader was nonchalant about the contest and preferred to remain focusedwith his ongoing passion to promote Sepaktakraw and expand membership further toinclude other Asian countries. To date after 17 years as President of ASTAF, Abdul
Halim Kader and his team managed to infuse into the federation, 18 new member
countries (7 countries as full members of ASTAF from Middle East to East Asia
including Macau, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong. As to date, ASTAF has 25 fullmembers and Abdul Halim Kader and his team will be targeting to expand further toinclude 10 new Asian countries which will accumulate to a total of 35 playing countriesin Asia.

Abdul Halim Kader congratulating Mr Nazarisham Bin Mohamed Isa from Singapore on hisappointment as ASTAF Treasurer for the year 2021 to 2025.

Abdul Halim Kader and his team are also working actively to bring Sepaktakraw to bea recognised Sport with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Abdul Halim Kader and his team are confident to achieve this during the next ASTAF
term for 2021 to 2025. To this end, Abdul Halim Kader team’s most significant
achievement was to gain acceptance of Sepaktakraw by IOC TV channel together
with five other international sports. Abdul Halim Kader and his team’s dedication andcommitment to Sepaktakraw has achieved its epiphany in gaining recognition for
Sepaktakraw by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and ASTAF will and must continue towork closely with OCA.

Abdul Halim Kader together with the newly appointed Secretary General, Mr Boonchai Lorhpipat
from Thailand and Mr Muhammad Fariq from Singapore as Deputy Secretary Generalfor the year 2021 to 2025.

Abdul Halim Kader believes in the strong teamwork which he has built within ASTAF
over the last 17 years. This has led to Abdul Halim Kader being entrusted by GeneralCharouck to lead and grow ASTAF. General Charouck himself a firm practitioner inthis tradition grooming the next generation of leaders to expand ASTAF further. Abdul
Halim Kader remains indebted and humbled by this trust. He is confident to receive
the strong support from ASTAF member countries as he leads the new Council andwork with the new team to grow ASTAF and expand its reach with a stronger anddynamic team to make Sepaktakraw a recognised sport across Asia.
ISSUED BY :ASIAN SEPAKTAKRAW FEDERATION
1 MARCH 2021, SINGAPORECONTACT : (+65) 98553424
Enclosed: Speech of ASTAF President

COUNCIL MEMBERS
2021 – 2025
PRESIDENTABDUL HALIM KADER, BBM

SINGAPOREDEPUTY PRESIDENTPROF CHALERM CHAIWATCHARAPORNYOGENDER SINGH DAHIYATHAILAND
INDIA

VICE PRESIDENTMEAS SARINSOE NAINGSOHRAB AZAD KHANKANDI
MASARU MISAWAOH JOO YOUNGSYAFRIZAL BAHTIARTSAI HUNG-PENG
NOUSHAD AHMED KHANCAMBODIAMYANMARIRANJAPANKOREAINDONESIACHINESE TAIPEIPAKISTAN

SECRETARY GENERALBOONCHAI LORHPIPATTHAILAND

DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MUHAMMAD FARIQSINGAPOREASST SECRETARY GENERALTO BE APPOINTEDTREASURERMD NAZARISHAM BIN MD ISAASST TREASURERAMIRAH MOHD ISMAILMEMBERLE HONG TINHSAMARANYAKE ABEYKOONGE KINGSLEYCHAREENDRA DE SILVASAFAA SAHIB NAYYEF ALNAWAFALIKASEM INTHARACHAN WAI YUENUN OI MOU
ABDULAZIZ ALBUSAIDINETRA PRASAD GURUNGMOHAMMED FARUQUE DHALIMOHAMMAD YASIN MOHAMMADISINGAPORE`SINGAPOREVIETNAMSRI LANKAIRAQLAOSHONGKONGMACAUOMANNEPALBANGLADESHAFGHANISTANTHE ABOVE ASTAF COUNCIL HAS BEEN ELECTED DURING THEASIAN SEPAKTAKRAW FEDERATION CONGRESS ON 1 MARCH 2021 VIA ZOOMSPEECH BY ABDUL HALIM KADER AT OPENING OF ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING OF ASTAF CONGRESS ON 1 MARCH 2021 AT 4
PM VIA ZOOM APP
Let me first welcome all delegates to this ASTAF Congress 2021 in which for the firsttime we are using an electronic platform.
This AGM is called very late in the day because of the Covid 19 epidemic that has
plagued the entire world. Each country has been implementing its own standards indealing with Covid. As the world had come to a complete stand still during the heightof Covid, it is now necessary to restart our lives in a manner safe for all to participate.
As you are aware, we hold our Congress and elections once every 4 years from 2004,
2008, 2012 and 2016. Adequate notice of one month has been provided all this while
and all members have adhered to it. We have been very open and transparent in ourdealings with members and members with issues have been able to approach ASTAF
directly or through the Council and the Exco. We have had no issue and in fact all
members have shown their appreciation for efforts that ASTAF has put up.
In light of the above, the Registrar of Societies has advised that AGMs can be held byway of electronic means. We have certain shortcomings with respect to how this canbe managed given the limitations of the electronic platform and ASTAF has therefore
put in certain guidelines to facilitate the Annual General Meeting. You would havereceived the protocols that ASTAF has put up and to ensure a smooth meeting, pleaseadhere to these protocols which has been approved by the ASTAF EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE before the general meeting.
So that the meeting may progress, the Chair and EXCO will lead the meeting andintroduce the various agenda items.
I have decided to appoint Mr Boonchai Lorhpipat, Secretary General ASTAF who is
not contesting in this Congress, to chair these proceedings of Congress. This isprovided for in the Constitution for the me as President to do so.
Without further delay I hand over the chair to Mr Boonchai Lorhpipat- please welcomehim.
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