PETALING JAYA, Jan 24 — Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) will take a page out of football’s playbook and push cosmetic companies for sponsorship.
Kelantan FA signed a RM16 million two-year deal with Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd last Friday while Datuk Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman, who owns D’Herbs Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd was reported to be considering sponsoring Selangor or Kedah and Megah Perawan are in talks with PKNS.
MRU general manager Mazuri Sallehudin said the money would be for development and high performance programmes.
“We approached some cosmetic firms and are intensifying efforts now,” said Mazuri.
“Unlike football teams, we only need RM1 million a year. We hope to get a positive answer soon.”
MRU struggled to raise funds for last year’s Asian Rugby Championship and were bailed out by the Sports Ministry. The team went on to win the Division Two title.
The 7s team then won a silver medal in the Singapore SEA Games, the nation’s first rugby medal in the biennial Games since also winning a silver in 1995.
Mazuri said Malaysia have done well in Asian tournaments and could offer good value for money.
“We are ranked sixth in Asia for the 7s version and second in the Under-20 category and won the Causeway Challenge Under-23 15s,” he said.
Aliff admitted D’Herbs were willing to listen to MRU.
“They need to send their proposal to us and most importantly it needs to benefit the company as well,” he said.
“We are deciding which football team to sponsor.”
He D’Herbs had also received proposal for sponsorship from hockey and equestrian but didn’t elaborate.
Vida Beauty’s Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman said said she wanted to concentrate on Kelantan for now.
“I may help other sports like rugby once I put everything in place in Kelantan,” said Hasmiza. Vida Beauty’s Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman said said she wanted to concentrate on Kelantan for now.
“I may help other sports once I put everything in place in Kelantan,” she said.
