KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Professional Golfers’ Association (MPGA) wants organisers of the Selangor Masters and Mercedes Asean Tours to retract their statements claiming they do not need a sanction from MPGA to host their tournaments.

MPGA secretary S. Selvakumar yesterday criticised organisers of the two tournaments for ignoring the Sports Commissioner’s decree which states MPGA is the approving body for professional golf tournaments in Malaysia.

The Asian Tour, Asean Tour or even the state government must realise MPGA is the sole sanctioning body for professional golf tournaments and strict adherence to this rule is mandatory to ensure tournaments are organised with a licence from the Sports Commissioner’s office and sanction from MPGA.

“Organisers of the Negeri Masters and Terengganu Masters, which are also organised by state governments, have sought the assistance of MPGA to sanction their tournaments and we don’t see why Selangor should not.

“We are also concerned the 32 slots given to Malaysian professionals for the Selangor Masters are not sufficient whereas foreign players are given priority.

“It is shameful state governments like Selangor are keen to spend taxpayers’ money to bring in foreigners at the expense of local professionals,” Selvakumar told Bernama.

Thailand, Japan, South Korea and even Indonesia always gave priority to their own players to play in their tournaments.

MPGA called on Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob to advise state governments to give preference for local golfers in locally-organised tournaments.

“Money spent must be for Malaysian golfers’ development. Malaysian taxpayers’ money must not be used to promote foreign golf professionals,” he said.

Selvakumar also took exception to the remark by Asian Tour executive director Kyi Hla Han that Selangor Masters need not apply to MPGA for sanction.

— Bernama