MALAYSIA "B"

Have a close look at the two pictures and try to spot something similiar. While the real Malaysian team lost the Merdeka Cup at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, the Malaysia "B" remained third in the BPL. Hull City and Malaysia spot a similiar designed kit but different sponsors, and that not where the similarity ends for we are struggling in South East Asia and Hull City could well be moving to second spot in the BPL tomorrow morning should they defeat Chelsea.

ON A WING AND PRAYER

Updated : Wednesday October 29, 2008

The Malaysian team lost when it came to the battle of nerves in the final of the Merdeka Cup. Some were quick to blame coach B. Sathianathan for the failure to retain the cup, and even went on to question his tactics. Yet these were the same people who only a few days ago praised Sathia for the three consecutive 4-0 wins recorded over the first three opponents. Perhaps it is the figure 4 that affected the chances of Malaysia winning the cup as the Chinese believe it is a number that signifies death, hence the defeat at the hands of Vietnam. Still I have faith in Sathia and whatever the FAM Technical Committee decides this week on his fate as National Coach, I believe that sathia will display strong character in carrying out his responsibilities towards the national team mission in the AFF Suzuki Cup this December.

But one cannot thinking that there is a grand plan to remove Sathia and why must the review of his contract be done now, in the midst of preparing for a major tournament?

Original Posting

Congrats to Sathia for doing a good job in grooming the national team for the AFF Cup. However qualifying for the Merdeka Tournament Semi Finals should not be used as a yardstick to gauge the squads preparation as the opposition was not up to the mark, despite reports stating that national teams made their way into Kuala Lumpur for a tournament that used to be the pride of Asia.

Unfortunately, the statistics don't lie. They expose the barren landscape of Malaysian football more than the sun bleached skulls of the Pol Pot's killing fields. It is a depressing scenario. yet, besides the usual diatribe, there is no firm policy or philosopy on hand to rescue the game from the dire straits it has been steered into by careless and incompetent stewardship.

And so lets keep our fingers crossed that Satia and his motely crew do well this December.

OVER TO YOU MR. MINISTER

Two Hon. Secretaries of two affiliates of a national body have been issued show cause letters by the Gen. Secretary of the parent body, for having aired their views in the print media, questioning the national bodies decisions.

But correct me if I am wrong, shouldn't show cause letters be issued only to employees that are gainfully employed?

Perhaps Sports Minister Datuk Ismail sabri would want to look into this as he has so much time on his hands of late trying to persuade the AFC to stay put in Malaysia. Talking on that, will those who were presented lavish gifts accompanying DPM and the previous Sports Minister on their visit to AFC last year be kind enough to send the stuff back to Hammam,...

Or is this an attempt to wield the axe in a sport that has seen better days...

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL

Seems that Tourism Malaysia had their backs to the wall in so far as signing up with the Australian club was concerned. This was because the deal was already agreed upon before the Chelsea proposal came through.

Still, with no formal documents having being signed, surely Tourism could have backed out from investing their money for a club in Australan Rules Football.

The argument it seems was that the target market is now Australia and not England. So it was fine for Tourism to go ahead and pay mega bucks for Manchester United last season when Malaysian Airlines had stopped flying there some two years ago. But when offered a chance to be the Official Holiday Destination of Chelsea FC, someone in Tourism forgot that it is one of the worlds most watched teams.

Original Posting

News is filtering in that the so called tie up between Chelsea and the Tourism Ministry may now be off.

And instead we might just be told of a tie up with an Australian football club. Does this make sense at all.

Please go dig up this matter so that the public can be well informed of the wriong choices being forced upon the Ministry.

MSIAN TO BUY ENGLISH CLUB

A Malaysian investor is keen to buy into a Second Division English Club, thus paving the way for Malaysian footballers to finally make their entry into the English League.

Negotiations are said to be underway for the takeover that is estimated to cost in the region of RM20 million. While the initial purchase price is affordable, it is the cost of maintaining the club that might cause some concerns.

Keep a lookout for more on this news in the coming weeks, or maybe the main stream media might be able to gather more info.

AND THE LIST GOES ON

Bollywood idol Shah Rukh Khan is a Datuk. The heartthrob will be receiving his Datukship from the Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob in conjunction with his birthday tomorrow.

Listed as an artiste from Dreamz Unlimited in the list of recipients, Shah Rukh will be receiving the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM).

He is among 77 recipients of the title.

Shah Rukh, 43, is a highly acclaimed Indian actor who works in Bollywood films, as well as film producer and television host.

He has starred in several box-office movies and won awards throughout his career.

CONGRATS PROF WY CHIN

By invitation of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Professor Dato’ Ar. W. Y. Chin, had recently been appointed as Joint Head of School or Dean of the Faculty of Architecture & the Built Environment at Cyberjaya.
LUCT is presently providing a twinning-programme in architecture, in collaboration with Curtin University of Technology, Australia. The faculty offers seven undergraduate courses of study, at diploma and degree levels, in architecture, interior architecture, interior design, urban planning, construction management, facility management, and landscape architecture.

Professor Chin is an architect, town planner and arbitrator by profession; he graduated with the degrees for the Bachelor of Architecture in 1964 and Master of Town and Country Planning in 1966 from the University of Sydney, where he also attained Prof Dato’ Ar W. Y. Chin a Prize Award recipient from its Urban Research Centre. He has
been president of the Sydney University Graduates of Malaysia Alumni (SUGMA)

As associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, Prof. Chin is additionally a practitioner arbitrator, locally and overseas, linked with PAM and the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA). He had conducted to-date 64 arbitration cases to his credit and had published 44 papers.

He had worked as architect-planner with the Urban Renewal Department, Singapore, followed in same capacity with the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Later, he was made a director of Eric Taylor Associates in Kuala Lumpur, before setting up his own professional practice in 1971 till this very day.

Academically, Professor Chin had lectured at LUCT and Tong-Ji University in Shanghai, China. He was relatively active professionally having served in many technical and ad hoc committees, including in DBKL and MBPJ as well as being chairman and assessor for several major architectural competitions.

He was president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), a member of the Board of Architects, Malaysia (LAM), and a Founding Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP). He was also an examiner of the PAM/LAM Part 3 Professional Practice examinations; an examiner of the LAM Board of Architectural Education and a Panel Examiner of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).

In sports, Professor Chin is currently the vice-president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM); he had held various high offices in local, national, regional, international and world sport bodies and authorities, covering an extensive period of over 2½ decades.