Justice at last

KUALA LUMPUR: It HAS been long overdue but the late See Kim Leong’s next-of-kin will finally be compensated.

While the RM50,000 that was approved yesterday fell short of the RM120,000 that the family was expecting, they were pleased to have closure.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzudin Ahmad said the cheque would signed and delivered to the family this week.

“The matter was discussed at the Exco meeting and we’ll make the necessary arrangements to pay the family the insured sum of RM50,000,” said Azzudin.

Mailsport had last month exposed that none of the players and officials were insured for the first four months of the 2011 Super League season (January to April).

Kim Leong, who was the Negri Sembilan physiotherapist, died due to a heart attack on Feb 5, 2011.

However, his wife Audrey McLeod suffered a second blow when told Kim Leong was “not insured”. Audrey was on the verge of selling her house in Klang as she was cash-strapped.

Kim Leong’s daughter Marianne See was relieved for her mother although she was perplexed with the vast difference.

“Perhaps the policy was underwritten I wonder when it was done?” questioned Marianne.

“Today (yesterday) is the first anniversary of his passing. My mum should have received the money earlier to spare her the agony but I guess this is better than nothing.”

It was reported earlier that AmAssurance agent Ikhwan Ibrahim sent the FA of Malaysia (FAM) an invoice on Nov 27, 2010 but the initial payment was only made by FAM in April. The national body apparently still owe AmAssurance despite having slashed the grants of the teams prior the season.

FAM deputy-president Tengku Abdullah Shah, meanwhile, stressed all teams were insured for 2012 as the policies started last month.