Wednesday, October 21, 2009

SHEER WASTE OF MONEY


COULD HAVE BEEN HELD AT PUTRAJAYA CONVENTION CENTRE

Yet another seminar is being held, this time entitled the National Sports Management Seminar organised by the National Sports Council, that commenced today and will end tomorrow.

Ironically the seminar is being held in Awana, Genting Highlands, and when one looks at the information with regards to the seminar on the NSC webpage, the following appears:

Embraced by High Mountain and cool tropical forest, Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resorts is certainly your gateway to the place and tranquility. Nestled in the country’s largest, longest and oldest mountain ranges. Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resorts is mere 45 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur, and is located approximately 3,000 feet above sea level. It is just a stone’s throw away from a host of entertainment facilities and accommodation. Renowned for its abundant green surroundings and crisp, cool air, Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resorts is the ideal venue for meetings and functions in a refreshing, stress-free environment.

There is so much space available right here in Kuala Lumpur so it is indeed baffling as to why the seminar is being held in Awana. We have loads of spaces available in the NSC, National Sports Complex as well as the Olympic Council of Malaysia where there are two seminar rooms named after our sporting legends, Dato Ho Koh Chye and Dato Mokhtar Dahari.

Why do we condone spending so much money to organise seminars when it has done nothing to improve Malaysian sports, the obvious case being the National Sports Convention in Langkawi in 1996, the end result of which is collecting dust in the NSC.

Are there so many distractions in the city that we have to house all the participants in Awana, incurr cost that could have been spent better by holding development clinics for sports that are in dire straits.

Besides if one looks at the tentative program of the seminar, you can see that there is no requirement for accomodation as the only program slated for the night is a dinner with the Sports Minister.

And the fee one has to pay, RM50.00 for full board for two days, conference handbook, cocktail reception and lo behold, a free skyway ticket.

Will the NSC be fortright and tell us just how much it cost to organise the seminar, including the cost of flying in some of the speakers?