The World Pencak Silat Championship and World Junior Pencak Silat Championship which was scheduled to be held in Singapore from 27 to 31 December has been cancelled.
Advertisements
TMSG also understands that the world body has decided to can the event for the year, and is not looking for a replacement host nation, given the short time frame.
The cancellation of the event comes at the back of Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) investigations into Singapore Silat Federation’s (SSF) chief executive Sheik Alau’ddin for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Sheik is assisting the CAD with investigations, following a police report filed by the SSF in February 2023 over financial irregularities in the organisation.
The World Pencak Silat Championship and World Junior Pencak Silat Championship were due to be held at the OCBC Arena, and drafts of marketing collateral had already been prepared for the event, including the hiring of a public relations agency to support the event.
However, the SSF informed journalists on 23 November that a media day which was to be fronted by Sheik at the Peninsula Excelsior Singapore hotel on 24 November had to be rescheduled.
The news of Sheik’s arrest was subsequently made public, with the former world champion now out on bail as investigations are ongoing.
The SSF has also sent a notification to all silat federations about the cancellation of both events.
“Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Singapore Silat Federation is unable to proceed with the championship on its planned dates,” part of the statement said.
MAIN PHOTO: SHEIK ALAU’DDIN FACEBOOK
