Sunday, October 21, 2012

A BIG FAT LIE

This is what BAM said some two weeks ago when the issue of the missing flag was highlighted in Harian Metro.

But watching the live telecast of the Danish Open Final showed clearly that the flag was still missing, perhaps now it will be another lie to cover the incompetency.

BAM akui tersilap

Oleh Mohd Hilmie Hussin
mohdhilmie@hmetro.com.my

PERSATUAN Badminton Malaysia (BAM) mengaku berlaku kesilapan teknikal berikutan ketiadaan Jalur Gemilang di jersi pemain negara yang beraksi di kejohanan antarabangsa.

Pengurus Besar BAM, Kenny Goh berkata, bendera negara sepatutnya dilekatkan di dada pemain dan beliau akan memastikan Jalur Gemilang kembali mendapat tempat di setiap jersi pemain negara.

“Kami akan letak kembali bendera negara, cuma di Terbuka Taiwan kami tidak sempat untuk mencetak bendera,” kata Kenny yang memberi jaminan perkara itu tidak berulang.

Pada Terbuka Taiwan berakhir kelmarin, tidak ada seorangpun pemain BAM menyarung jersi yang tertera bendera negara.

Hal ini juga berlaku di Terbuka Jepun yang menyaksikan Datuk Lee Chong Wei muncul juara tapi tidak lagi mengucup bendera di dada sebagaimana sering dilakukannya ketika meraih setiap gelaran.

Suffice to say some are too free to criticize this blog via another blog. Go ahead and do what low life people do.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

ANOTHER JOURNALIST SUED

Just a few days after the National Union of Journalists raised the issue of intimidation of sports journalists, we can now reveal that a journalist has received a letter of demand from a sports official that has close links with the Badminton Association of Malaysia.

The letter of demand was received yesterday and although the details are still sketchy, it is apparently on an article the journalist wrote with regards to preferential treatment received by some badminton players.

The plaintiff who has close ties with two top BAM officials is obviously peeved at what was written and this comes in wake of the two BAM officials having somewhat issued veiled threats against journalists last month.

This culture of issuing letter of demands for defamation against sports journalists is bad for sports as it is sports that will eventually lose out as there will no longer be reports of critical thinking or analysis thus rendering sports coverage to just results of events.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

SAFEE SALI - VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES


Only Safee Sali can help himself to get out of the current mess he is and in reality its a decision that he has to make on his own.

The Football Association of Malaysia Deputy President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said that it was Safee to make the right decisions to overcome the impasse.

He said this when posed a question with regards to the position of Safee at a press conference during the launch of Pahang Hockey 5 year development program.

"FAM did not make a mistake, who said FAM made a mistake," retorted Tengku Abdullah.

"Safee in a situation where he is fully aware that he is playing in a league that is said to be not sanctioned by the Indonesian FA.

"It is a critical situation and he was well aware of the risks he undertook and the consequences of playing in such a league. He has a contract and needs to get out of the contract. That is his choice as we at FAM do not curtail a player seeking fortunes elsewhere.

" I tried to save the situation on a personal note and hopefully he will not be banned and through efforts undertaken. He is a victim of the circumtances but self inflicted."

On Peter Butler, Tengku Abdullah said he was unawares of the fact that FAM had turned down the appeal and will leave it to FAM to resolve the issue.

Friday, October 12, 2012

STOP HARASSING SPORTS WRITERS

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) calls on the National Sports Council and national sports associations to stop intimidating sports writers by sending legal notice for publishing unfavourable
reports about them.

The reporters, just like journalists operating in other beats, are carrying out their public duties to serve their audience, be it readers, viewers or listeners.

They carry public interest stories as the development of sports are closely followed by the young and old.

The government allocates funds to develop and promote sports events and journalists have the right to expose wrong doings and mismanagement.

The NUJ believe sports writers and their media organisations subscribe to fair reporting which includes giving aggrieved parties the right to reply.

The practice of sending notice of demand to critical sports writers tantamount to intimidating them from pursuing investigative reporting.

We assure sports writers that the NUJ will spring into action, including defend their right to carry out their duties free from harassment.

Our call is in response to two former Malay Mail reporters who have been issued letters of demand by the NSC for stories published last year and this year.

One of the reports is a subject matter in court now.

We have also received feedbacks that reporters occasionally received legal notices but the aggrieved parties did not pursue further like filing legal suits.

Thank you.

V. Anbalagan
General Secretary
National Union of Journalists

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

CHONG WEI TO WED MEW CHOO NOV 10

Contrary to what is being said and written, Dato Lee Chong Wei will tie the knot with Wong Mew Choo on November 10.

And he will make details of the wedding known soon.

Chong Wei clarified that arrangements are being made and a more detailed program will be announced at a Press Conference soon.

" Bro, I will have a press conference soon about details on my wedding. The date is November 10 and not as what they are saying everywhere else. Hope you can help clarify this," said Chong Wei.

Saturday, October 06, 2012

WHY NO JALUR GEMILANG BAM?


Well it sure looks like that. Just look at the picture above and tell me where is the Jalur Gemilang? It was watching the Taiwan Open on TV that got me asking the missing Jalur Gemilang on the playing attire of the Malaysian players at international events.

The Badminton World Federation allows five adverts on the front of the playing attire and looking at the attire one can see that all five are given to sponsors - Yonex. Maxis, Maybank, Astro and Proton.

So I guess its perfectly okay to ignore the Jalur Gemilang and place sponsors. just how much money do you need BAM? After all isn't the government the biggest contributor - via funding from the National Sports Council.

So why ignore them. Make public please the amount that BAM gets from all the sponsors and from the government. Then we must rationalise the return of investment both for the private and public sectors.

Over to you BAM, not that I expect you to answer as transparency was never your strongpoint.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

DEFAMATION OFFICIAL IS KOK CHI


"I believe in the justice system in the country and I maintain I have not defamed anyone. Therefore I should no be persecuted as such."

Those were the words of Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary Dato Sieh Kok Chi who was issued a letter of demand by lawyers representing the National Sports Council.

Thius blog yesterday revealed about an official being issued a letter of demand or risk facing an allegation of defamation and Kok Chi confirmed that he was the person who was alleged to have uttered statements that NSC deemed as defamatory.


The action by the National Sports Council against Kok Chi has the blessings of the Minister of Youth and Sports.

However informed sources within NSC has revealed that it was initiated by an officer that harbours hopes of replacing Dato Seri Zolkples Embong as the Director General and bears a deep grudge against Kok Chi of late.

Whatever it is, in the end both NSC and OCM have their respective roles to play and thus both Kok Chi and Zolkples ought to sit over a cup of coffee and talk things over.



Tuesday, October 02, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: THE DATO ZAINAL INTERVIEW


EXCLUSIVE: Many have tried but failed to get newly elected MAU President Dato Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad to speak up after he was elected to the hot seat of President some two weeks ago. This blog managed to get in touch with Dato Zainal and he agreed to provide some answers to questions posed, both via email and over the phone.

Having known Dato Zainal since 1993, I must vouch for his sincerity and credibility and love for athletics. No doubt it will take him time to overcome the issues, but what matters is that he will do things with conviction, as he has a 33 years unblemished civil service record to fall back upon.

Read on the exclusive interview:

Note: For those who desire to lift the quotes from here, please feel free to do so but contact the blogger for permission.

SSD: What made you go for the President's post at MAU given the fact that as a former civil servant with 33 years of service with an impeccable record you were wading into dangerous though not unchartered waters?
DZ: My observation is that MAU is not doing well and I felt, with my experience the last 45 years, I can try to put things right after I discovered no one is being nominated for the post! Now that I am given the opportunity, I want to give the association the leadership it requires and to better manage it. The rest will follow. To do this I need the support of all members in the Council, the government and the public sector. With everybody's cooperation we will turn around the association.  

SSD: Please share with us your service record in athletics as you have had years of involvement in different capacities.

DZ: I was elected as the Secretary of the Negeri Sembilan Amateur Athletics Association (NSAAA) in 1967 and served for 4 years. Was Vice President from 1972 – 1980 and Deputy President from 1980 – 1992. From 1992, until the present, I have been the President of the NSAAA. During the same period, I was appointed Secretary of the Negeri Sembilan Majlis Kebajikan dan Sukan Anggota-Anggota Kerajaan in charge of twelve sports including athletics. Was also appointed as a council member of the Malaysian MKSAK during the same time and became the sub-committee Chairman for athletics, badminton and sepak takraw. I was also an athlete , a state champion, and represented the State in the sprints, hurdles and the State relay teams from 1965 – 1968. At the national level,  was the Acting Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) from 1969 – 1972, and, then, Vice President from 1980 – 2001. I was also the Coaching Chairman from 1979 – 1990 and, at various times, was also Chairman of the Selection Committee in MAAU. All these took place when the late Tun Ghazali Shaffie was the President of MAAU. In December 2007, was appointed as the Chef de Mission to the 24th Sea Games in Thailand.  Before that, had been the Team Manager of the national track and field teams to the 1972 Olympic Games, 1978 Asian Games, 1998 Commonwealth Games and the SEA Games in 1971, 1977 and 2001. 

SSD: Tell us a little about Dato Zainal - the man?
DZ: I graduated from the University of Singapore with a BA in Economics and Geography in 1965 and, upon graduation, was appointed into the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service (PTD). I was posted to Negeri Sembilan as Private Secretary to the Menteri Besar. This was followed by the appointment as the Assistant Commissioner of Land and Mines, Assistant State Secretary and Secretary to the Legislative Council until 1969. From 1970 until 1982, I served in Dakar, Washington D.C., Bangkok and Medan. I was the First Secretary at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington D.C., U.S.A., Counselor and Permanent Representative to ESCAP in the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, and the Consul-General at the Malaysian Consulate in Medan, Indonesia.  During the same period, while in Malaysia, he held the post of Principal Assistant Secretary (Inspectorate), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1982 and, until 1987, served as the Under Secretary for the Scholarships Division and the External Affairs Division in the Ministry of Education.  From 1987 to 1993 was the Under Secretary for the Defence Industry Division and the Development Division in the Ministry of Defence.  Then, from mid-1993 to 1996, was seconded as the Director-General of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB). I married Tan Sri Nuraizah Abdul Hamid in 1972 and have three children. I retired from the civil service in 1996.
 


SSD: MAU has for more then a decade being in the press for the wrong reasons. How can you change the perception?

DZ: Perceptions can be changed if transparency is practiced. That is where I believe that my years in civil service will help me administer MAU better. But mind you it will take a huge effort and it will be the collective responsibility of all those associated with the sport. No one person can lay claim to better MAU and I surely do not intend to work for accolades but rather depend on the notion of shared responsibility.

SSD: The stigma of the alleged doping incident will continue to haunt MAU in the years to come. Had you been in the position earlier, would you have handled things differently?

DZ: One thing is certain, that both in the sports and the country's laws there are laws to punish doping/drug offenders. I believe that we need to respect the law and let nature take its course. Those who are guilty ought to face punishment in accordance with the laid out regulations. 

SSD: Everyone seems to offer a remedy for athletics without being able to pinpoint where actually we went wrong in the first place. Your diagnosis and prognosis of the current development imbalance?

DZ: That is so true as I have been reading and been told about the state of affairs in athletics, all the negative things but without any concrete solution. When I decided to offer myself as a candidate for the presidency, I already have a plan on how to go about improving things. But as I stated it is not something etched in stone and maybe others have better suggestions and can offer solutions. So I am practicing an open door policy, write to me, come see me in the office as anyone with suggestions to help the sport will be welcomed. We owe it to our nation to correct any flaws and improve sports, in this case athletics.

SSD: Administration of MAU is also under question as a strong administration reflects the ability of an association. Any changes in store?

DZ: I am a firm believer that employees should serve the government of the day - without fear or favour. Thus what I want is for employees, be it office staff or coaches to be apolitical, not to have any hidden agenda or serve any personalities but the sport itself. Changes are inevitable in any organisation but to what degree it is left to be seen.

SSD: How will you see MAU say in two years from now?

DZ: We have a tendency to judge success with the number of medals won rather then having a system in place that will eventually bear fruit. That is why I want to appeal to all, be it fans, media and officials as well as athletes to judge us on a wider perspective and not just medals. Athletics needs a revamp and it might take time to regain our lost glory. Two years may not be sufficient but I promise to do my level best to improve or better the image of MAU and try to achieve the desired results with the assistance of the fraternity.

Monday, October 01, 2012

SUING SPREE?

The sports fraternity is abuzz with talk of sports officials, journalists and a newspaper being issued letter of demand by lawyers representing the National Sports Council.

Efforts to seek a response from the NSC Director General Dato Seri Zolkples Embong proved futile as SMS went unanswered.

It is learnt that the letter of demands state defamation of NSC and some are even on statements made in May 2011.

More details to follow as a clarification from the office of the Minister of Youth & Sports is also being sought to find out why NSC has resorted to such action.

EXCLUSIVE: DATO ZAINAL SHARES HIS THOUGHTS

EXCLUSIVE



Dato Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad, the newly elected President of Malaysian Athletic Union has been in the hot seat for about two weeks.

He shares with this blog exclusively his thoughts on the state of the sport, his plans and solutions.

COMEBACK LATER TODAY FOR THE FULL STORY

A little about Dato Zainal.


Dato’ Zainal has had many years of involvement in sports and sports organisations at both the State and Federal levels.

Dato’ Zainal was elected as the Secretary of the Negeri Sembilan Amateur Athletics Association (NSAAA) in 1967 and served for 4 years. He was Vice President from 1972 – 1980 and Deputy President from 1980 – 1992. From 1992, until the present, he has been the President of the NSAAA.

RIP ZULHILMI @ PAKCIK KAYA


A dear colleague Zulhilmi Supaat, the Sports Editor of Bernama passed away suddenly this morning at the Selayang Hospital.

I last met Zul at the London Olympics and he was rushing from venue to venue, trying his level best to provide coverage for the Malaysian public.

Normally a jovial person, Zul was somewhat reserved on this trip and we only met at the Wembley Arena, the venue for badminton.

It is still fresh in my mind when I covered the All England in 2004 in Birmingham with him. After the All England, Zul as well as Lukman Salleh (now Arena) and S. Selvam (now BWF) were planning to stay a night in London before catching their flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

I offered them a place to stay at my sister's and they accepted. The next day all of us went to downtown London and Zul was in his jovial self, as he cracked jokes, and even my family was happy with his mannerism.

From then on whenever our paths crossed, Zul started calling me the Mayor of London, for he was happy to have been able to see London in a day.

My friend, you are no more with us today, as your maker loves you more. You will be missed and my heartfelt condolences to your family.

May you rest in peace dear friend. God bless your soul.

Note: His remains are at lot 8705, Jalan Nakhoda Kanan 2, Kampung Nakhoda, Batu Caves

Bernama Sports Desk Chief Zulhimi Dies

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Zulhilmi Supaat, head of the Sports Desk at the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), died on Monday at Selayang Hospital. He was 44.

His widow, Noor Aidah Idris, 37, said Zulhilmi was admitted to the hospital last night after he complained of difficulty breathing. He died at 7.45 am.

Zulhimi leaves behind four children, Amir Fitri, nine, Alya Farisah, seven, Aina Farizah, six, and Akmal Fahmi, five.

He joined Bernama in 1992 and had covered various sports events in the country and abroad, including the recent Olympic Games in London, the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010, the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010 and the Thomas Cup badminton tournaments.

Zulhimi was also a committee member of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM).