IT'S TIME HE IS RECOGNISED

When I read that HRH Sultan of Selangor, was giving out 30 Datukships instead of the 40 intended, and only to deserving Selangor citizens who excelled, my hopes were raised that finally this Malaysian Hero, KARAMJIT SINGH @ The Flying Sikh would be in the list. I fervently hope so. He has definitely done more to put the country on the world map, in a dangersous sport and not dancing around some resort in Malacca. This reflects of course on the donor state. The Sultan of Selangor is known for his perspicacity when it comes to the bestowing of awards to recognise his subjects.

WHY DOES KARAMJIT DESERVE TO BE RECOGNISED?

Achievement and career highlights:

• Nine (9) times Malaysian National Champion Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2004
• World Champion (PWRC) 2002 Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2002
• Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2001 Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2000
• Champion Merdeka Endurance Race 2000 Thailand National Rally Champion 1998
• Asia Pacific Production Rally Champion 1997 2002 NST-SPORTS TOTO Man of the Year
• 2002 Malaysian Sikhs Association Man of the Year 2002 MSN National Sportsman of the Year
• 2002/03/04 Malaysian Motor Sports Man of the Year Works driver – KST Ralliart China 2006-07
• Conferred SIS title by HRH Sultan of Selangor in 2003 Winner – Rally Malaysia 2006
• Conferred AMN title by HRH King of Malaysia in 2003

Karamjit Singh is the Asia Pacific regions’ most successful rally motorsport driver ever. He has won multiple championships throughout the region and has been ranked number one in the region.

Karamjit is also among Malaysia’s top sportsmen and Malaysian Sportsman of the year in 2002. The super fast and talented Karamjit also became World Champion in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship that year.

He was the first Asian to ever become world champion in a motorsports world championship series. Karamjit Singh is also a multiple Malaysian and Asia-

Pacific champion, driving for Team PETRONAS - PROTON. The global success of Karamjit Singh has endeared him to the Malaysian public. His every campaign

is carefully followed by various media in Malaysia. He has developed intoMalaysia’s true blue hero and role model.

Karamjit Singh is Malaysia’s best and undisputed Number One rally motorsport driver and one of the country’s top sportsmen. His mental strength, agility and driving skills have resulted in countless wins in the high speed sport of motor rallying.

Karam made his rally debut in 1986 in the Castrol Daylight Rally, thereafter spending the first two years of his remarkable career competing and winning local rallies as a privateer. Karamjit then later joined the Petronas Eon Racing Team (PERT), a super successful partnership which through the years has propelled him to achieve extraordinary feats in motorsports.

His best performance to date came in 2002, when he achieved the rare and historic feat of winning both the World Production Car Rally Championship and Asia Pacific Championship title in the same year, a feat never before achieved and not yet matched to date. He is the only driver ever to collect two prizes for two different FIA championships at the FIA awards gala in Monaco.

His dedicated approach and rigidly religious focus on his driving has earned him the respect of the global motorsports fraternity. The unassuming, disciplined and always devoted Karamjit Singh, whose other passion is golf, is always feverishly challenging himself to outdo his last milestone with the ultimate goal of pitting his skills and winning against the world’s best, the attribute of a true professional world class sportsman.

Karamjit Singh is the 2007 Malaysian National Champion and currently competing in the 2008 Malaysian National Rally Championship, leading the championship outright, with two rounds completed. He intends to return to the WRC and APRC in 2009, sponsorship funds permitting.

Recently a Malaysian company Fusion Excel International donated RM20,000 towards this.

But it has never been roses all the way. Trouble in the form of lack of sponsors reared its ugly head in 2005.

Karamjit shipped his Proton PERT to New Caledonia in hopes of competing in the rally but was forced to pull out last minute because he could not secure enough sponsors for the event. Even the FIA was understanding in this matter, because they knew Karamjit’s team was facing financial difficulties, they had subsidised the participation fees for the rally. After all, last year’s defending champion had to defend his title right? That was what FIA was thinking. But Karamjit was still short of cash for mechanics and tyres.

Karamjit will not be participating in the current round, Round 3, which is in Rotorua, New Zealand on the 17th and 19th. Round 4 would be in Hokkaido Japan. But guess where is Round 5’s venue? No where else but MALAYSIA! (19-21 August 2005) It would be a shame to see that our own Flying Sikh (Karamjit’s nickname) cannot even compete in his home grounds because he could not secure sponsorship!

It’s not just about defending the APRC title. Even his career is in jeopardy now. FIA APRC’s rules state that he has to finish 6 out of the 8 races, otherwise he could be fined up to USD3000 per race. Last year he got first place for 4 out of the 6 rounds. This time, he can’t even participate in the 6 rounds. He has only been able to get enough money to run 3 rounds this year so far. In addition to the fear of the USD9000 fine (3 remaining races), the FIA could suspend his license. They can suspend my licence. If I am under suspension, how am I going to earn a living?” said Karamjit.

Karamjit has already had offers from two foreign manufacturer teams for him to drive for them. He is seriously considering the options now since his own country seems uninterested in the fact that he has made Malaysia proud in the international rally circles. Initial discussions with them have already begun.

“My first choice will be to continue driving for a Malaysian-backed team. That was the reason for staying with the Petronas Eon Racing Team (PERT) for the last 17 years. But the team will cease operations at the end of the year. Getting sponsors have been the big problem. If there is sponsorship overseas, why should I discard the opportunity?” said Karamjit in an article in The Star.

Karamjit, besides Nicole David, is the only other really good world champion we have. Please don’t force him to look overseas and make some other country/car manufacturer proud instead of our country. REMEMBER VIJAY SINGH WHO DETHRONED TIGER WOODS? Don’t kill him (Karamjit)off.

Karamjit had actually been contemplating to race for an overseas-based factory team in 2005 but he did not, for reasons which I will assume to be patriotism. Bad decision?