History of MAS and Swimming in Malaysia
History of Swimming in Malaysia & ASUM
In the twentieth century, swimming was a popular activity in Malaya at that time. In the beginning, swimming was a common activity of the general public such as fishermen. After the arrival of the colonists in the country, they performed many activities that they never did or rarely do, such as swimming. Soon, it attracted many people, especially in the peninsula of Malaya.
Due to the deep interest in swimming, the first swimming clubs were formed in Malaya. The first swimming club in Malaya at that time was the Penang Swimming club, which was established in 1903. This was followed by the Penang Chinese Swimming Club in 1928. Two years later, the European Swimming Club was established in Ipoh followed by Taiping, Kuala Lumpur, and Kinta Swimming Club in 1936.
As a result of very active swimming clubs – in 1931, annual swimming competitions were organized by the Malayan Chinese Olympiad which continued until 1937 where clubs were from Penang, Perak, Johor and Malacca participated.
Subsequently, swimming sports in Malaya stopped as a result of the Second World War. Many clubs were closed for safety reasons. But after the Second World War, interest in swimming and swimming clubs gradually returned as the country was still in a state of instability. To enhance the performance of the sport at the time, many competitions were organized between Asian swimming clubs from Singapore, Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Its purpose was to attract the public at that time. Thus the Malayan Amateur Swimming Union (ASUM) was formed in 1955.
A year later, in 1956, Malaya for the first time participated in the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Among the events include swimming, Sports, Weight Lifting, Shooting and Hockey. At that time, the Malaysian swimming association was named ASUM, Amatuer Swimming Union, Malaysia. Today, ASUM is affiliated with FINA or the Internationale de Nation Amateur. Subsequently, Malaya has participated in several international competitions such as the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, the SEA Games and the Asian championships.
(English translation of original article in Bahasa Malaysia – Ref: http://ts30302maximarenang.blogspot.com/p/pada-tahun-abad-ke-dua-puluh-renang.html
Sejarah Renang Malaysia (Original Article)
Pada tahun abad ke-dua puluh, renang merupakan aktiviti yang terkenal di Malaya pada masa itu. Pada mulanya, berenang merupakan aktiviti yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat umum contohnya seperti nelayan. Selepas datangnya penjajah di negara ini, mereka melakukan banyak aktiviti-aktiviti yang tidak pernah atau jarang dilakukan oleh mereka seperti berenang. Tidak lama kemudian, ia menarik minat ramai rakyat terutamanya di semenanjung Malaya.
Oleh kerana minat yang mendalam terhadap berenang. Maka tertubuhnya kelab-kelab renang. Kelab renang pertama ditubuhkan di Malaya pada masa itu ialah Penang Swimming club yang ditubuhkan pada tahun 1903. Diikuti dengan Penang Chinese Swimming Club pada tahun 1928. Dua tahun kemudian, European Swimming Club ditubuhkan di Ipoh diikuti dengan Taiping, Kuala Lumpur, dan Kinta Swimming Club pada tahun 1936.
Akibat daripada kelab-kelab renang yang sangat aktif. Pada tahun 1931, sukan renang dinaikkan dengan pengelolaan the Malayan Chinese Olympiad dan di teruskan sehingga tahun 1937 dimana penyertaan kelab yang terlibat ialah dari Pulau Pinang, Perak, Johor dan Melaka.
Selepas itu, prestasi sukan renang di Malaya menurun akibat perang dunia kedua. Banyak kelab-kelab pada masa itu ditutup untuk tujuan keselamatan. Tetapi selepas perang dunia kedua, minat terhadap berenang dan kelab-kelab renang dipulihkan secara berperingkat kerana pada masa itu Negara masih dalam keadaan yang kurang stabil. Untuk meningkatkan prestasi sukan renang pada masa itu, banyak pertandingan dikelolakan di antara kelab-kelab renang Asia dari Singapura, Pulau Pinang, Ipoh dan Kuala Lumpur. Tujuannya ialah untuk menarik minat masyarakat pada masa itu. Dengan itu maka tertubuhnya the Malayan Amateur Swimming Union pada tahun 1955.
Setahun selepas itu iaitu pada tahun 1956, pada pertama kalinya Malaya menyertai Sukan Olimpik yang berlangsung di Melbourne, Australia. Antara acara yang disertai antaranya sukan renang itu sendiri, Olahraga, angkat berat, menembak dan Hoki. Pada masa itu, persatuan renang Malaysia dinamai ASUM iaitu Amatuer Swimming Union, Malaysia. Pada hari ini, ASUM merupakan antara ahli gabungan badan renang dunia iaitu FINA atau Internationale de Nation Amateur. Selepas daripada itu, Malaya telah menyertai beberapa pertandingan antarabangsa seperti Sukan Olimpik, Sukan Komanwel, Sukan Asia, Sukan SEA dan kejohanan Asia.