Honorable Tan Haji Abu Samah

The Honorable Tan Haji Abu Samah was an IOC Member to Malaysia from 1978 through 2004 and was then an honorary member until his death in 2012. He studied as a lawyer at Gray’s Inn in Great Britain. In Malaysia he served in various cabinet ministry positions until he retired from government work in 1980. He was a member of Parliament from 1967-80, serving as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (1967-69), Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1969-71), Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports (1971-73), Minister of Defense (1973-74), Minister of Commerce and Industry (1974-77), and Minister of Law and Attorney General (1978-80).

His positions in sports administration were numerous, including President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1976-98, Vice-President of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation from 1985-94, Vice-President of the General Association of the Asian Sports Federation from 1988-98, Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia from 1982-86, Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Federation in 1982-98, and Honorary Life President of the Southeast Asian Games Federation beginning in 1977. Abu Samah also served as President of the Football Association of Malaysia from 1976-83, Honorary President of the Football Association of Malaysia beginning in 1983, President of the Asian Football Confederation from 1978-94, Honorary President of the Asian Football Confederation from 1994-2012, Vice-President of FIFA from 1982-90 and an Honorary Executive Member of FIFA since 1990, President of the Malaysian Cricket Association from 1969-90, and President of the Malaysia Taekwondo Association from 1987-99.