Kamaruzaman (seated second left) with others at a press conference.
SIBU: A total of 92 bodybuilders from throughout the country will converge on Sibu for the Mr Malaysia Bodybuilding Contest at Kingwood Hotel, May 23 – 24.
Sarawak best bodybuilders in the likes of Fong Wee Kong and Farrokh Ibtisam Ting who was recently crowned the Champion of the Champions in Mr Giant Bodybuilding Championship will vie for the 12 titles at stake.
Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBBF) honorary secretary Kamaruzaman Kadir said this would be an interesting tournament with the elites from the west locking horns with the best from the east.
“Come and join us for the scintillating show and I believe the performance of these bodybuilders will captivate the crowd,” he said at a press conference yesterday afternoon.
With him were Sibu Division Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Association (SDBWA) officials, representatives from the various sponsors for the tournament and participants of a bodybuilding course held here yesterday.
Selangor and Sabah are sending 12 bodybuilders each, followed by Armed Forces and Police with nine each.
Kuala Lumpur has eight, Johore and Penang, six each, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan and Malacca, four each, Putra Jaya has three, and Labuan and Perak have two each.
Host Sarawak has 11 contestants.
For the record, Sarawak won the Mr Malaysia on two occasions – once in 2014 in Kuala Lumpur won by Melvin Abdullah and the second time in 2015 won by Azizul in Persekutuan Labuan last year.
The 12 categories include the two juniors (one below 70kg and one above 70kg), masters (for 45-years and above), light flyweight, fly weight, bantamweight, lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
Kamaruzaman said the winners from the respective categories would be picked to represent the country for the Mr Asia in Bhutan in September and also Mr World Championship in November, the venues have yet to be decided.
“However, all this is not automatic and the winners still have to undergo another selection to ensure that they are up to the standard to compete with these international bodybuilders.”
Meanwhile, the welcoming dinner for the Mr Malaysia participants will be held tomorrow at 7pm with Dudong assemblyman Datuk Tiong Thai King as the guest-of-honour.
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh will represent Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem to grace the final of the contest on May 22.