Owning up is hard to doComment by Rajes Paul
Abstract:
While athletes are ready to admit their shortcomings, there are administrators – at least some of them – who believe they can do no wrong.
They are either slow to admit mistakes or too proud to recognise their own flaws.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi agrees that in Malaysian sport, transparency is sorely lacking.
“As far as Malaysian sport is concerned, it seems nothing can go wrong. Some are living in denial and do not want their image to be marred. Some cover up issues and try to solve it. Others just cover up and do nothing. Only some expose things and get things going.”
Sadly, it seems easier to sweep matters under the carpet.
If not, why didn't the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) come out in the open and say that they had erred in the contract of the coaches, which eventually saw Chinese Li Mao joining the Korean BA and women's doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit questioning his salary. The BAM reacted only when the pressure piled up.
Infighting within associations is nothing new. Take the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). The infighting is almost incessant.
Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar is a busy man. He even has a squabble on his hand with two parties both claiming to be the genuine authority of their sport.
Is there something wrong with our Sports Act. Why is there room for so much dispute and discord?
It has been two months now since the National Sports Council (NSC)'s Doha programme climaxed with the closing ceremony of the Asian Games. But there is no news on the long-awaited new programme geared towards the Beijing Olympic Games. Should it not have been revealed during the Feb 8 meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Sport?
Or were the cabinet committee too preoccupied with the High Performance Training Centre in Brickendonbury, London? It was revealed that RM69mil would be needed for refurbishment work at the centre. There was no announcement on what is being planned for the Olympics just over a year away.
Then, there was that announcement that the Malaysian junior team have been accepted to train at Arsenal FC in London. It was heart-warming news. But the Hertfordshire Mercury newspaper on Feb 16 says that Arsenal had denied having had any discussions on such a matter.
Whose mistake is that? Why is no one owning up?
3 comments:
For one to own up about the fiasco of training at Arsenal FC in London is to admit that he/she is incompetent and is not suited for the post he/she is presently holding with a handsome salary. But rest assured very soon a junior scapegoat would be bribed to take all the blame and the affair will be swept under the carpet.
Aksyen mau, nanti malu tak apa. The same goes for the denial of Easyjet and Virgin having links with Malaysia for the 99 cents air fare to London.
it's a shame isnt it. but i guess everyone is just waiting for more $$$$ allocation from the ministry before they do anything.
ya' know... they need to know how much 'they' are getting before letting others know their salary.
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