An article from overseas

I read a back issues article of the American Cheerleader magazine (Feb 2002). They had this investigation to see how cheerleading has grown. And they found out that at least 50 countries have active cheerleading program. Here is what they say about Malaysia:

MALAYSIA
Malaysia is home to hundreds of cheerleaders, both male and female. Years of dedication to the sport culminated in Cheer 2001, Malaysia’s first-ever national cheerleading championship. The event drew more than 400 cheerleaders on 24 teams from 20 schools. Team Britain, Britain’s all-star team, judged the competition and ran two clinics prior to the event. Among the 400 competitors was Marina Mahathir, granddaughter of Malaysia’s Prime Minister.

The top team in Malaysia was the Shirtliff squad from Seri Bintang Utara. The team earned a bid to Cheer LTD’s 2002 CANAM Nationals in Myrtle Beach, SC, and plans on making the trip to the States this spring.

Cheerleaders in Malaysia are just as involved in their communities as American cheerleaders. The Cyrens cheer squad from Kuala Lumpur performed at The Body Shop & Women’s Aid Organization Stop Violence Against Women campaign last August, and they pumped up their all-female audience with the chant, “Toughen up, women!” It looks like this country is definitely on the right track to cheer success. —DK