1Malaysia Development Berhad chips in RM20,000 for former Mr Asia

KUCHING: Former Mr Asia Bujang Taha received RM20,000 from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yesterday, to help him and his family get back on their feet following a fire which razed their home on Tuesday afternoon.

HELP GIVEN: Representative of 1MDB handing the donation to Taha (left) and Hood (right), both victims of a recent fire.

Taha, from Kampung Tanjung in Petra Jaya here, received the contribution from a 1MDB representative during a visit to his damaged home.

Similarly during the visit, 1MDB also presented RM10,000 to Taha’s neighbour Hood Mahmud, whose house was also ravaged by the fire.

1MDB chief executive officer Shahrol Halmi said the contribution, although small in comparison to the losses suffered by Taha, is a token of appreciation from the company to a former national athlete who has given so much to the country.

“Bujang (Taha) has represented the country with distinction and honour in the sports arena, winning accolades for the nation. This is our little way of showing our support to him, and to share his grief during this difficult time,” he added.

Shahrol also hoped that this move will encourage others to come forward to help Taha, an individual who had done the nation proud during his heyday as a national body-builder.

Taha won Mr Asia titles in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1986. He also won two SEA Games gold medals in Kuala Lumpur in 1977 and in Jakarta in 1979 in the bantamweight category, as well as qualifying for the Mr Universe challenge in 1982 in Belgium