The Olympic Council of Malaysia has held its 23rd annual dinner and awards night in Kuala Lumpur ©OCA

The President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has hailed 2015 as a "successful year" for the organisation at its annual dinner and awards night in Kuala Lumpur.

In his opening address, Prince Tunku Imran paid tribute to the achievements of Malaysia's athletes at the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore in June.

They claimed a total of 186 medals, comprising 62 golds, 58 silvers and 66 bronzes, to finish fourth on the medal table behind winners Thailand, runners-up Singapore and third-placed Vietnam.

Prince Imran also acknowledged the hosting of the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Kuala Lumpur from July 31 to August 3, when Beijing was selected to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games ahead of sole rival bidding city Almaty.

The IOC member added that the OCM would not have been able to have a successful year without the support of the Malaysian Government, sponsors and hundreds of volunteers.

The guest of honour at the OCM’s 23rd annual dinner and awards night was Datuk M. Saravanan, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports. 

More than 600 guests were in attendance at the Tan Sri Hamzah Arena, including representatives of National Sports Associations, Government sports agencies, former and current national athletes, ex and current OCM office bearers, inductees of the OCM Hall of Fame, sponsors and media. 

Staging this year's International Olympic Committee Session in Kuala Lumpur was the highlight of the year for the Olympic Council of Malaysia ©OCM
Staging this year's International Olympic Committee Session in Kuala Lumpur was the highlight of the year for the Olympic Council of Malaysia ©OCM

Saravanan congratulated the OCM on its achievements this year and urged the OCM, the National Sports Associations and all other stakeholders to work closely with Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports to prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

He was also given the honour of inducting individuals and teams into the OCM Hall of Fame in the athlete, official and journalist categories.

Among the athletes to be inducted were hockey player Yang Siow Ming, table tennis player Soong Poh Wah and swimmer Jeffrey Ong.

The four Malaysian teams to have won badminton’s Thomas Cup - in 1949, 1955, 1967 and 1992 - were also inducted.

A number of awards were also presented by Prince Imran, including the 2015 IOC Trophy "Sport and Innovation", which went to famous Malaysian pop group KRU.

This year, the KRU composed, produced and performed a special song entitled "Kuasa Juara" - the Power of Champions - for Malaysia’s athletes competing in the SEA Games.

It became the theme song of the Malaysian contingent for the first time in history, inspiring the country to its best-ever medal haul at an SEA Games outside their home country.