KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) proudly announced today (September 22) that 99 Speed Mart Sdn Bhd, which owns and operates a chain or supermarkets across the country as a sponsorship partner for the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup that will be held in Malaysia from December 5 to 16.
99 Speed Mart Sdn Bhd was founded by Lee Thiam Wah, who is known as the ‘King of Mini Marts’, in Klang, Selangor back in 1987.
The handing over ceremony of the mock cheque for RM1.2 million took place at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium between MHC President Dato’ Sri Subahan Kamal together with 99 Speed Mart director of branches operation, Yong Eng Kwang, witnessed by MHC Treasurer Selvendran Saravanamuthu, MHC Chief Executive Officer Nishel Kumar, National Men’s Youth squad team manager I. Vikneswaran along with head coach Muhamad Amin Rahim.
During the press conference to announce the sponsorship, MHC President, Dato’ Sri Subahan Kamal expressed joy and happiness at such a cooperation and understanding, and he expressed hope that more corporate entities, companies and corporations will step up as sponsors and partners because such sponsorships are very much needed to help in the organising of such a prestigious sporting event which requires a lot of funds so as to ensure that the Junior World Cup is well organised and a success.
“I am very honoured and humbled because 99 Speed Mart came forward on their own to MHC and expressed their desire to help sports in Malaysia, especially in organising the Junior World Cup. They also expressed that for them, the sport of hockey has great potential and this is why they have stepped up to become a sponsor.
“The MHC is always working very hard in finding the necessary funds not just to organise global sporting events and tournaments like the Junior Hockey World Cup but also to help in preparing the team as best as possible. With the funds that have been graciously contributed by 99 Speed Mart, it will be put to good use for the organising of the Junior World Cup and for the team’s preparation to compete.
“In order to find the necessary funds to organise such a prestigious and big sporting event like the Junior World Cup is anything but easy, however over the next few weeks there will be more sponsors that will come forward and by next month, we will introduce even more sponsors for the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup,” said Dato’ Sri Subahan.
At the same time, 99 Speed Mart director of branches operation, Yong Eng Kwang expressed hope that after such a sponsorship agreement it will spur even more corporate entities, companies and corporations to come forward and help sports in one way or another.
“As a local business, it was a calling for us to come forward and help sponsor local sports and sporting events held in the country because the sport of Hockey has a very good following and it is also a high-level sport. We hope that our sponsorship will help the sport of Hockey to continue to be at a high level.
“Our business philosophy is to prioritise on local folks and such a cooperation will not end here because we are determined to continue to help hockey players and one way of doing so is to absorb them, to employ them at 99 Speed Mart in the future,” said Yong.