Mava president Hii says he will not seek re-election

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Dr Gregory Hii

SIBU: Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng will not be seeking re-election at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) cum election in Kuala Lumpur next month.

Hii has also hinted at stepping down as deputy president of Sarawak Volleyball Association (Sava) when the committee members meet tomorrow in Sibu.

Hii, who was recently elected as the president of Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), cited his busy schedule as the main reason to call it quits.

“I feel that my contributions towards these two associations were more than enough,” he said yesterday.

Hii is the second Sarawakian to hold Mava’s president post.

The first was former state minister the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Ling Beng Sung in the 1960s.

Hii had served as Mava vice-president for three terms from 2004 to 2009, before he took part in a hotly contested presidential election in 2015 which he won by just a vote.

“Ever since, I have done everything possible, including providing all the financial support, to help revitalise and resurrect Mava.

“During my short two-year tenure, I have managed to streamline Mava and bring an improvement on its accountability and reactivate its administration to put it on proper footing,” he claimed.

Regular meetings, tournaments and exposure trips for players were organised, all aimed at giving Mava a clear direction in its future undertakings, he added.

“And for the first time, the FIDV Circuit Beach Volleyball tournament was re-introduced this year,” he said.

Now that he is the president of SCCCI, he would need more time and energy to serve the business community, Hii added.

“The job requires frequent shuttles between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.”

Looking back, Hii expressed his satisfaction after crafting out some achievements for Mava in the past two years.

His only regret was the failure of the national volleyball teams to win any medal in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

“In our bid to win a SEA Games volleyball medal, we poured in tonnes of hardwork and determination to toughen the players and improve their mental strength. In the end, we were just not good enough to win any medal.

“It was so near and yet so far but on a positive note, we should be satisfied with our performance.”

The men’s team managed to grab the fifth placing but the women’s team got virtually nothing.

“It was very disheartening to think about that but at least, I believed I have left behind a team of players and coaches and an administration that was properly managed.”

As to whether his decision to quit Mava would be accepted, Hii said he leaves it to the Mava delegates to decide at the AGM.