The Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC) is in a state of flux as one of two feuding factions in the organisation, which is linked to prominent Umno personalities, today sealed the MAYC office at Wisma Belia in Kuala Lumpur.

MAYC seal building According to Ahmad Ansor Muhd Rivai Batubara, who was elected MAYC secretary-general at an annual general meeting (AGM) on July 31, the action followed fears that the MAYC assets and documents would be "grabbed".

In a report lodged at Brickfields police station yesterday, Ahmad Ansor, who is also Perak MAYC chief, said the association office was sealed over a dispute concerning the registration documents of MAYC Perak chapters.

"Upon my inquiry, a staff member at the (MAYC Wisma Belia) office told me that her boss had instructed her against giving me any document, and that the files have been sent by lorry to another office at the Putra World Trade Centre.

"Our intention in sealing the MAYC registration office is to stop any mischief from taking place," he said.

NONE Ahmad Ansor told reporters later that correspondence between the MAYC secretariat and the Registrar of Youth Societies (ROY) also gave rise to fears of wrongdoing.

"In May 2009, ROY sent a notice to the MAYC secretariat warning it of deregistration if it did not hold the annual general meeting as instructed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

"In its reply, the secretariat sought more time, saying it was in the midst of transferring assets to the MAYC Foundation," Ahmad Ansor added.

Asked for details of the foundation, Akhramsyah Sanusi, who was elected MAYC president on July 31 and is the son of former MAYC president and cabinet minister Sanusi Junid, said: "It's a mystery... (the foundation) is defunct".

AGMs deemed illegal, MACC complaint soon

Today's incident, which was witnessed by about 30 MAYC members from different states, follows a declaration by ROY that the AGMs held by the two MAYC factions on July 31 and Sept 26 last year were illegal.

The second AGM, called by then MAYC secretary-general Syed Rahman Syed Kuning and presided over by outgoing president and former cabinet minister Syed Hamid Albar, was held on Sept 26.

Mustaffa Mat Arop, who was in Syed Hamid's leadership team, was elected president.

According to the ROY notice, the July 31 AGM is illegal because, among other issues, it was not called by the secretary-general.

The Sept 26 AGM was also deemed illegal as the notice of meeting was not sent to the majority of the MAYC member clubs, financial reports were defective and nominations for posts were made by members in just two states, instead of 12 as required. An appeal is likely.

mayc protest 220111 ahmad ansor muhd rivai batubara akhramsyah sanusi azmi ismail The party that held the July 31 AGM said in its appeal to ROY that it did not send the notice of meeting to Syed Rahman since his term as secretary-general had expired in 2007, two years after being elected, as per the MAYC constitution.

However, this appeal was rejected by the dispute panel headed by the Mohid Mohamed, who had officiated the Sept 26 AGM, thereby raising questions of his independence.

"We will apply for a judicial review of the decision and lodge an appeal with the minister next week. We will also lodge a complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission," Ahmad Ansor ( above, extreme left ) said.

Gov't urged to freeze RM200,000 annual grant

Ahmad Ansor, who is a lawyer by profession, has also written to the ministry to freeze the RM200,000 a year government allocation given to MAYC until the issue is resolved.

"The ministry has agreed, but there are a few formalities that need to be resolved before it can proceed," he said.

kuala terengganu by election 140109 syed hamid albar The last AGM held by MAYC was in 2005, at which Syed Hamid was retained as president amid scuffles and protests.

Syed Hamid ( left ), who now heads the Land Public Transport Commission, has accused Akhramsyah of slander, saying that he had nothing to do with any asset transfer to the MAYC Foundation.

MAYC's assets are estimated to be worth at least RM30 million, not including income from businesses and rental of its properties.

Two police patrol cars and several plainclothes officers were present when the office at Wisma Belia was sealed today. They said they came after receiving complaints of an illegal assembly, but no action was taken.

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