Razali and Butler

UPDATED with Datuk Razali's response:

Deputy Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim is bound for England to "make things" happen. If you ask me, enough of these trips lah! Unless if you happen to be a millionaire who owns an event management company eyeing bilateral relations or business opportunities, visits made by politicians and Ministers usually do not accomplish anything. Football is for people with connection, who you know and not what you know lah! Very much like the Mafia...once I posed this question to former FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi...of course he shrugged off the idea!

Updated, a response in Razali's facebook wall:

"Terima kasih Rizal... sebenarnya saya ke sana ialah untuk sign understanding dgn university of Bath tapi tak mau membazir lawatan maka saya penuhkan masa di sana dgn mengunjungi pasukan kita di Slovakia & mengadakan perbincangan dgn beberapa pimpinan di sana... maaf jika media menonjolkan mengenai perkara2 lain sebab itu tugas mereka yg amat mahukan prestasi bolasepak kita kembali cemerlang... apapun jika ada pilihan saya lebih minat utk mengelak kerja jauh2 ni sebab penat & balik bertambah kerja... trust me... nampak tak seperti yg dirasa :-)"

KEMENTERIAN Belia dan Sukan (KBS) tampil dengan idea lebih rasional menggunakan Tabung Pembangunan Bola Sepak sebanyak RM10 juta dengan memilih bakat muda menjalani latihan di Eropah berbanding idea awal menempatkan pemain Bawah 23 tahun negara ke sana bagi tujuan pendedahan dalam tempoh yang panjang.

Bagaimanapun, KBS tidak mahu bersikap terburu-buru dalam memilih kelab mana yang bakal dijadikan pangkalan pemain muda negara mengasah bakat meskipun menterinya, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Januari lalu, sudah membuat tinjauan ke kelab Liga Perdana Inggeris, Everton.

Ketika kertas kerja berhubung program pembangunan bola sepak bersama Everton sedang diperhalusi, KBS mengatur langkah untuk mencari pilihan yang lebih baik apabila kali ini mereka mengintai peluang bekerjasama dengan kelab gergasi iaitu Manchester United, Liverpool dan Manchester City.

Rancangan itu akan cuba direalisasikan menerusi lawatan susulan Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim selama seminggu bermula Ahad ini.

“Saya akan berada di sana (England) untuk tengok pembangunan bola sepak di Liverpool, Manchester United atau Manchester City serta Everton sekali lagi. Saya meminta kerjasama FAM (Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia) bagi memberi maklumat dalam mengatur pro- gram saya di sana nanti. “Dana pembangunan bola sepak sudah ada, jadi kita kena segerakan program yang mahu kita laksanakan, jadi dalam rangka lawatan ini saya boleh meneroka lebih peluang dengan kelab lain bukan hanya Everton saja. Kita tidak akan hantar skuad yang sedia ada ke sana, sebaliknya kita nak bawa pemain umur lebih muda bagi program jangka masa panjang,” kata Razali yang ditemui selepas membuat pertemuan dengan Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad di Putrajaya, semalam.

Sebelum ini, KBS bercadang untuk menempatkan K Rajagobal (gambar), jurulatih skuad negara yang menjuarai pingat emas bola sepak Sukan Sea di Laos, Disember lalu, bagi mendapat pendedahan di luar negara bagi memantapkan skuad itu.

Bagaimanapun, rancangan itu dikritik segelintir pihak yang mahu bantuan kewangan yang disalurkan kerajaan itu digunakan bagi tujuan pembangunan peringkat akar umbi.

Razali berkata pihaknya mencari pakej menarik menerusi kerjasama itu bagi memastikan rancangan itu mencapai matlamatnya.

“Kita mahu mengatur program melahirkan pemain skuad kebangsaan, jadi kita kena kenal pasti pemain yang benar-benar berbakat. Cuba bayangkan kalau kita dapat peluang hantar pemain muda ke Manchester United atau Everton, ini pasti akan merangsang minat ramai pemain muda di seluruh negara,” jelasnya.

By the way former Kelantan coach Peter Butler has few good words to say about Malaysian football...

Exclusive: Peter Butler - Football In Malaysia Is Falling Apart
Not all is well with the world of Malaysian football according to an old Asia hand...
By John Duerden
Feb 24, 2010 2:59:00 AM
Peter Butler
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Peter Butler left Malaysia club Kelantan in 2009 to head to Myanmar and Yangon United and the English coach has no regrets.

The former West Ham United midfielder has a wealth of experience coaching in South-East Asia and believes that Malaysian football has problems.

“I went to Yangon because it was a new challenge and I was a bit disillusioned with Malaysian football,” Butler told Goal.com.

With experience in Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and well as England, Butler points to the fact that clubs can't look overseas for talent as a major failing.

“No foreign players are allowed, terraces are empty and the game is falling apart there. I have since been proved right as the fans are deserting the game there – except those of my old team Kelantan.

"The No-Foreigner rule in Malaysia is destroying the game there."

There was some good news for Malaysia as the under-21 team triumphed at the SEA Games late last year but Butler believes that the win is not as meaningful as some may think.

"You can forget what happened in the SEA Games. Malaysia just got lucky and half the teams sent very young teams," he claimed.

You can’t judge how your domestic league is progressing by how you did in the SEA games - it is a sub standard competition these days."

An open letter to Tunku Pete and the Sports Commissioner

Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) Level 4, National Aquatic Centre, Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, Bukit Jalil, 57700 Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Email: tkdwtf@tm.net.my Fax : 603 - 56343112
Media Release

Formation of a Protem Committee for Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) as a National Taekwondo body. Date : 5th February 2010. Via Fax

The Protem Committee of Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) wishes to announce its formation as a national body to look after the affairs of taekwondo WTF in Malaysia by a virtue of a Ministerial Directive and appointment letters issued via the Sports Commisioners Office dated 4th February 2010.

The task to form this National body was entrusted to Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar with his first hand experience in the affairs of Taekwondo WTF while in his Chairmanship of the now dissolved MTA Ad Hoc Committee.

The Terms of Reference for this new Protem Committee is as follows in its original Bahasa Malaysia text for its accuracy.

TERMA RUJUKAN BAGI JAWATANKUASA PENAJA
1. Untuk menubuhkan sebuah badan taekwondo baru dan akan berdaftar dengan pejabat ini.
2. Mempelawa semua persatuan taekwondo peringkat negeri dan kelab - kelab taekwondo untuk menyertai badan sukan baru tersebut.
3. Memastikan satu mesyuarat agung tahunan diadakan dalam tempoh tidak melebihi 12 bulan dari tarikh ia didaftarkan.
4. Memastikan bahawa perlembagaan persatuan peringkat negeri yang menyertai badan sukan taekwondo yang baru ini adalah selari dengan perlembagaannya di mana satu negeri hanya mempunyai satu wakil sahaja.
5. Menjalankan semua urusan berkaitan taewkondo WTF bagi sukan taekwondo di Malaysia. 6. Menjaga kebajikan dan status atlet untuk mewakili negara di dalam kejohanan taekwondo

The officers appointed into the Protem Committee by letter issued by the Sports Commisioner’s Office dated 4th February 2010 and subsequently elected into the various positions at the Meeting are :

Chairman Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar
Deputy Chairman Dato. Roy Rajasingam.
Secretary Datuk Samson David Maman
Treasurer Mr KM Rajenderan
Technical Chairman Grandmaster Mr Song Yoong Khin
Committee Members Y. Bhg Datuk Mohamad Nazim Bin Tun Abdul Razak
Mr Chee Hock Choong
Grandmaster Leow Cheng Koon
Grandmaster Chin Mee Keong
Also to be appointed into the Committee for their invaluable advice are:-
En. Jalaludin Bin Othman of Kementerian Pendidikan
Tuan Haji Jalil Bin Hj Abdullah of MSN
Puan Hjh. Che Zaharah Bt. Abdul Hamid of KBS
All appointments of Protem Committee Members are in their personal capacity as they have the necessary expertise and knowledge on matters affecting this sport.

The tenure of the Protem Committee wil be for 12 months but the Chairman with the support of his Protem Committee Members hopes to resolve all matters within 3 to 4 months before an Inaugral AGM can be held to elect Office Bearers to administer the Association.

The revised open Constitution created by the previous MTA Ad Hoc Committee for National Association and State affiliates will be adopted by Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) with minor amendments.

The Chairman also wishes to announce that MTCA and MTF has reaffirmed its decision to disband as national bodies representing Taekwondo WTF members in Malaysia.

The MTF will do so on the 19th March 2010 and the MTCA on the 4th March at 6pm in support of Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF). ATM and MASUM The Chairman wishes to notify that ATM and MASUM will be encouraged to affiliate with Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) as the Sports Commissioner has given it exemption from registration with the SC.s Office to maintain its status.

All Clubs and states seeking affiliation to Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) must be registered with the Sports Commisioners Office. The Chairman Tunku Imran and the protem Committee wishes to thank the States and Taekwondo Clubs for the numerous congratulatory messages received on its formation.

He said ” It augurs well for a new beginning after more than 5 years of turmoil this sport has gone through.

He has stated his wish to see all parties coming together to help rebuild Taekwondo (WTF) in Malaysia and expresses his thanks to the former MTA States of Perlis, Perak, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan as well as the MTF States of Kedah, Sabah, Sarawak, Johore and Putrajaya for their faxed letters of support.

The MTF States of Sabah and Johore were previously affiliated to MTA. Kuala Lumpur under Mr Ho Kam Phaw “has also expressed support in principle for the initiative but will hold its State meeting soon to endorse its decision before issuing its written consent.”

The Chairman reiterated „It not too late for anyone to join in but please do it as early as possible as taekwondo classes and many taekwondo Instructors have already been affected nationwide in this new school calendar year of 2010. The continued upheavals within taekwondo WTF must come to an end and this change will be the catalyst for it. The Constitution is open free and fair to enable members to determine their future and their destiny. We are only interim Administrators”

Thank you Datuk Samson Maman Hon Secretary

Raja Taharuddin Raja Nong Chik, appointed by the Sports Minister but removed by Tunku Imran and Co

Exhibit A - Feb 19, or was this document doctored, altered?

Exhibit B - Taekwondo Malaysia has come to existence, although in the ad-hoc committee meetings plus the Akujanji, it was clearly stated MTA to be the umbrella body

Exhibit C - Sports Minister has rejected MTA's appeal against the suspension

Exhibit D - in my limited Bahasa, only one governing body to be formed for taekwondo in Malaysia, and that is MTA/WTF...

Exhibit E - point of contention, the voting rights for clubs. It was agreed in the ad-hoc committee that 49 premier clubs would be given one collective vote in the decision-making process

UPDATED with the Press release and logo of TM (top)

Dear YAM Tunku Imran and Ybhg Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof,

I hope this letter reaches your good office with you in good health and in fine spirits. To be honest, though, I am getting sick and tired with your failure to find a solution to the taekwondo saga.

I have taken the liberty to attach, with this letter, a few documents that I wish to label as exhibits in the name of clarity and transparency.

Datuk, your decision to register Taekwondo Malaysia (TM) beggars belief. I can sense this is done in such a way that TM will be the governing body of taekwondo, which violates the Akujanji signed in 2008, refer to exhibit D. Following the de-registration of MTA in 2005 and later the reinstatement by the same Sports Minister, an ad-hoc committee was formed. In Dec 2008 an Akujanji was signed by all parties to accommodate other taekwondo associations, namely MTF and MTCA under MTA and to collectively grant one vote to all clubs in Malaysia.

Therefore my being suprised is an understatement. Are you telling me the Akujanji, a document that usually is binding to its signatories, is a pledge that can be violated anytime to one's whim and fancy?

I appeal to your good sense, if there's any, that you look at the issue in totality and give due recognition to all parties.

Datuk, as a civil servant, it is incumbent upon you to act and make decisions objectively. I don't wish to remind you of my skirmishes with your predecessor Tan Sri Elyas Omar over the same issue in 2005 when I was still working with the Malay Mail.

No doubt, Tunku and Datuk, the idea behind the formation of one umbrella body is noble to govern a sport plagued by internal bickering, favouritism and greed. Ultimately the issue is about money to be made out of grading system and power.

A club can easily earn RM500,000 a year based on the number of exponents in its stable.

To sideline one party just to accommodate another faction will not solve the impasse which I can safely say is due to the feud between two grand masters.

Taekwondo is certainly a sport driven by the club system. However Malaysia practices a State-Federal system, where State governments and the Federal government have certain rights. The matters where powers are assigned to are listed in the State List, the Federal List and the Concurrent List of the Federal Constitution.

I urge you, Tunku and Datuk, to consider these issues.

Sport is listed under Concurrent List and therefore both states and Federal governments have rights to develop sports. Thus there is a Federal Minister of Sports and at state level, there are Exco members in charge of sport in each state. In addition, SUKMA is competed on an inter-states basis and national championships are also competed on an inter-states basis.

If a club located in a State becomes a direct member of the National Sports Association, then that club loses all its privileges and benefits from the State, such as representing the State in SUKMA, in national championships, etc.

In other words, since they have no loyalty and affiliation to the State Sports Associations, then they shall be left on their own. This is most important, as otherwise, such clubs will have the cake and eat it, by benefitting from both the state and the Federal government and depriving those clubs which are affiliated and loyal to the State Sports Associations.

The definition of a club is also very important. Could a club be on a Pan-Malaysia basis, that is, taking members from every state in the country, or are they restricted to take in members from only the state of their registered address or districts of their registered address. This is most important, for being a national club, it can soon become bigger than the National Sports Association and challenge the National Sport Association.

Who are the members of the clubs? Can school children be voting members of a club? If yes, is there an age limit, say over 18 years or 21 years? Should there a minimum number of members become a club could be registered as a club? What is there to prevent abuses, if groups of 10 to 20 parents and their children form a club just to vote an AGMs? Can school pratictioners become voting members of a State Sports Association?

The above are very important principles, which should be discussed before any hasty decisions are made. Otherwise, we will be creating more problems than solving problems. And it also create a 'precedent' to others National Sport Association to follow.

Tunku, you failed to find a solution to the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) issue when you chaired a task force after it was suspended in 2002. Your task force's proposed amendments to the MAAU constitution were accepted but they merely encouraged intense politicking and lobbying on an annual basis. This is the chance for you to make amends.

As for you Datuk, your contract as the Sports Commissioner expires in May. Before you leave, do the right thing. Reinstate MTA and grant MTF and MTCA affiliation, with voting rights for the premier clubs limited to one. Taekwondo Malaysia should not stand for Tak Malu.

Sincerely,

Rizal Hashim

Congratulations, SAM!

Muhyiddin is happy to pose with Shabery and winners of the SAM-KBS journalism award, S.S. Kanesan (best photography), Kamarul Ariffin Hassan (consolation prize, photography), Rizal Abdullah (best news report), Yusni Ariffin (consolation prize, photography), Ajitpal Singh (best commentary) and Shahril Nizam Abdullah (best special report and overall award)

Congratulations SAM, its president Ahmad Khawari Isa and his exco members for a grand SAM-KBS awards on Saturday...

Congratulations Azizulhasni Awang for bagging the prestigious award, becoming the first cyclist to be accorded the honour...

Congratulations to the winners of the SAM-KBS journalism awards, namely The Malay Mail's Rizal Abdullah who wrote a touching tale of Negeri Sembilan coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan's undying love for his mother to win the Best Report (print) award, New Straits Times' Ajitpal Singh (Best Commentaty - print), producer Mohd Fauzi Marzauki of RTM (Best Commentary - electronic), The Star's SS.Kanesan (Best Sports Photography) and Shahril Nizam Abdullah of Kosmo! (Best Special Report) and overall winner.

Congratulations again to SAM for giving due recognition to past presidents...remembering those who had contributed to SAM's reputation was timely...

Media coverage of the event, loose cannon must say, overshadowed that of the Petronas MPI awards lah...its media value was priceless!

Prizes were given away by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin and Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

In Azizulhasni's absence, his mother Selamiah Yong was specially flown from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur by FireFly...

Muhyiddin answering questions on politics, taekwondo, sports in schools...

National Sports Council director general Datuk Zolkples Embong (right) and his predecessor Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad

Khawari has big shoes to fill, imagine his list of predecessors included Norman Siebel, Datuk Rahim Razali, Zainuddin Bendahara, Datuk Fauzi Omar, Shaukei Kahar, Mustakim Aminuddin and Abu Bakar Atan...but so far he has exceeded expectations

FA of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad (left) may have been discussing Super League matches being broadcast over Astro Arena with the channel's vice-president, Matt McKeown

Loose cannon's better known namesake Rizal Abdullah and loose cannon's ex boss at Berita Harian, Datuk Ibrahim "Tiger" Yahaya, now director-general of RTM

Loose cannon's mentor Nasir Ahmad, Zairee Zahir and Azis Ngah of Berita Harian

A well-attended luncheon, as Abdullah Sani of TV3 can testify

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim must have wondered how his athletes - Daniel Bego, Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee - missed out on the award. He's seated at the table bought by Datuk Seri Abdullah Hishan Hashim (centre). On the left is Hishan's fellow Penangite, Datuk Abdullah Sani Karim

FA of Selangor also bought a table, courtesy of treasurer S. Sivasundaram

Loose cannon's ex-boss at the Berita Harian sports desk, Zian Johari and Rahim Lajis

SAM like to keep things in the family, hence Hafizal Hamad's emceeing duties...

and Sons of SAM comprising Naseruddin Wahab (x-Bernama and Mingguan Sukan), Dhinesh Kumaran (ex-Star and Sun), Fahmi Omar (ex-Bernama and Harian Metro) and Chua Choo Chiang (ex-Star and Sun) performing together for the first time since 1994

ah the usherettes, Kosmo's editorial staff handpicked by Kosmo! sports editor and SAM vice-president, Asan Ahmad

EPLx Kosmo! Feb 20

Houllier and I, part two

Cover of EPLx Kosmo! Feb 13

The editorial

Part 1 of the interview in EPLx Kosmo! Feb 13 edition

Sidek is gone...

Sidek Othman, the national hockey coach who took Malaysia to the bronze medal in the Tehran Asian Games in 1974 and the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, passed away on Wednesday night at the University Hospital. He was 71.

Born in Malacca but grew up in Butterworth, his name may not ring a bell among generation X and Y but the late Sidek was synonymous with hockey and cricket in the 60s and 70s.

Ismail Bakri, one of his contemporaries and coach of the 1972 Munich Olympic squad, paid tribute to Sidek, a left-half during his heyday.

"He would go to great lengths to accomplish his mission once he set his mind to it. We will miss him."

Datuk R. Yogeswaran was saddened by the passing of one his closest friends.

"He and I assisted Ho Koh Chye in the 1975 World Cup. A year later he took the team to the Montreal Olympics. We renewed our coaching ties in 1979 when he assisted me for the Paris Junior World Cup in 1979. Sidek served TNB and Armed Forces with distinction, no doubt," said Yogeswaran.

Ow Soon Kooi who served Sidek in Montreal, expressed his deepest condolences to Sidek's family.

Lord Jim?

After the dust has settled, the taekwondo fraternity is set to install Datuk Nazim Razak (pic), or Jim among his inner circle, as the president of Taekwondo Malaysia, the successor to the de-registered Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) . The architect after all is a member of the pro-tem committee tasked to undertake the activities of the sport pending an election.

Taekwondo: Protem committee takes charge

2010/02/06

TAEKWONDO Malaysia has formed a protem committee to undertake the activities of the sport in the country pending an election of office bearers. The new national body was formed under a directive from Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek to unite the fragmented Malaysian taekwondo community under a single umbrella.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar is chairing the committee with OCM vice president Datuk Roy Rajasingham as his deputy.

Others appointed to the committee are Datuk Samson David Maman (secretary), K. M. Rajendran (treasurer), Song Yoong Khin (technical chairman) and committee members Datuk Mohamad Nazim Abdul Razak, Chee Hock Choong, Leow Cheng Koon and Chin Mee Keong.

Samson said in a statement the tenure of the protem committee has been fixed for 12 months during which the inaugural annual general meeting will be held to elect office bearers and adopt a constitution.

Besides state associations and clubs, the Armed Forces and Malaysian Universities Sports Council have been invited to join as affiliates after the Sports Commissioner's Office agreed to exempt the two bodies from registering with the office.

The Malaysian Taekwondo Clubs Association and Malaysian Taekwondo Federation have also agreed to disband as national bodies on Mar 4 and Mar 19 respectively in support of Taekwondo Malaysia.

Samson said Perlis, Perak, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan -- former affiliates of the de-registered Malaysia Taekwondo Association (MTA) as well as MTF affiliates of Kedah, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Putrajaya support the formation of TM.

Kuala Lumpur, another former MTA affiliate, is also supporting TM in principle.

Two x-FAM bigwigs in SDFC

Tengku Ahmad Shah Sultan Salahuddin

Datuk Seri Mohamed Sulaiman

Sime Darby FC may be competing in the FAM league, the third tier competition in the domestic structure but they are getting a headstart by appointing two former FA of Malaysia bigwigs to help strategise the team's future.

SDFC deputy chairman-cum-team manager is former FA of Malaysia vice-president, Tengku Ahmad Shah, known for his role as the Selangor team manager in the 90s. Chairman is Datuk Seri Mohamed Sulaiman, a former FAM treasurer. When the idea of forming SDFC took shape last year, Sime Darby did not have to look beyond the group. Tengku Ahmad Shah is chairman of Sime Darby Medical Centre in Subang, while Mohamed is a member of Sime Darby board of directors.

Charting the team's fortunes on the pitch is former Selangor tactician and head of the academy, Ismail Zakaria. They have registered quite an encouraging series of results in friendlies as they prepare for life in the M-League's third division!

Selamat bertugas...

Dari kiri Ahmad Fuad, Kelly, K. Rajagobal dan Datuk Subahan Kamal

Tahniah kuucapkan kepada Haji Ahmad Fuad Daud dan Kelly Sathiraj yang menggalas tugas selaku penolong Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) berkuatkuasa 1 Februari lalu. Tugas mereka berat bukan kepalang.

Fuad yang berasal dari Kuantan pernah menjawat tugas setiausaha Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Pahang (PBNP) manakala Kelly, yang satu ketika bekerja di Gabungan Bola Sepak Asia (AFC), bekas pemain hoki Melaka. Fuad kekal mengepalai jabatan pertandingan FAM manakala Kelly ketua jabatan antarabangsa.

The tiger in us

My apologies for this late posting but better late than never. Happy Chinese New Year to all my friends, readers of this blog, the sports fraternity and to Toronto-based Uncle Lee, owner of the blog moonlight rendezvous who by right should be here in Malaysia to help market Malaysian sports. May our paths cross one day! And may the tiger in each and every Malaysian athlete help them raise their bar.

On the world map

Malaysia is already in the map for being part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tennis tours. The latest inclusion in the world sporting calendar is the inaugural Sime Darby Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in October, which may well feature Pak Se Ri and her Korean colleagues!

For Immediate Release

INAUGURAL SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER


Kuala Lumpur, 11 February 2010 – The inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia has been scheduled to take place in Malaysia from 22 – 24 October 2010 at the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).

The Sime Darby Group, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and event promoter IMG today announced that they will, for the first time in Malaysia’s history, bring a full-field LPGA sanctioned event to Malaysia’s shores.

It will feature the top 50 LPGA members from the Official Money List, along with 10 sponsor’s exemptions. The three-day stroke play event with no cut will ensure that players spend most of their time in Kuala Lumpur and provide for a great tournament where the local and regional golf community can catch their favourite stars in action.

“The tournament will be a catalyst for the development of the women’s game in Malaysia,” said Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the Sime Darby Group. He noted that with Asian professional lady golfers, particularly the Koreans, having proven their ability to perform at the highest level, there is no reason why Malaysians cannot attain the same level of achievement.

“The tournament will also promote Malaysia as a reputable golf ground via KLGCC and is also a testimony to Malaysia’s ability to host events of this scale at the international level,” added Tun Musa.

The LPGA is recognised as the official governing body for professional women’s golf and has been making inroads in Asia. The selection criteria of LPGA, which has been staging more events in this part of the world as well as having a global reach, will enable IMG to secure the best international playing field. A stellar line up can be expected come October.

“IMG prides itself in playing an integral role in developing the sport globally and our footprint in Asia has been growing from strength to strength. So we are excited that we can finally stage a full-field LPGA event in Malaysia,” said Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President of IMG.

“With the support of Sime Darby and the LPGA, we can be assured that this inaugural event will deliver high quality in terms of international and local players as well as through the fabulous host venue.”

The world’s leading women golfers, through their participation in golf tournaments throughout the world, have endorsed Malaysia as a leading golf destination. More details about the event, including star players, local players and prize money, will be announced closer to the event.

Event Details

Player Field:
Qualification criteria for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Open cater for a maximum number of 60 players. There will be no cut, so all will play the full 54 holes. Those invited to participate will be:

• Top 50 players from the Official Money List (as of 5 October, 2010)
• Ten Sponsor’s Exemptions

Format / Criteria: 54 hole stroke play event – no cut
Prize Purse: To be Announced

New twist to SAM-100 Plus Excellence Awards

UPDATED, Friday Feb 12, 11.0am

Overall winner of the SAM-KBS media awards stand to take home this trophy plus cash RM7,000. There are six categories of the award, namely best news report - print, commentary - print, best news report - electronic, commentary (electronic) special report - print and electronic and best photography. Winner of each category will receive RM3,000 and a trophy.

The Athlete of the Year will take home RM10,000 and this trophy

from left SAM vice-president Eric Samuel, president Ahmad Khawari Isa, Datuk Kamal Harun, F&N national corporate affairs manager and Jin Ye of F&N at the press conference

ORIGINAL POSTING

Cycling champ Azizulhasni Awang

Swimming sensation Daniel Bego

Squash star Datuk Nicol Ann David

Datuk Lee Chong Wei

One of the most prestigious awards in the sporting world is the Ballon D'or, or widely known as the European Footballer of the Year award. It was conceived by France Football journalist, Gabriel Hanot. As many as 96 journalists around the globe pick the top five players on an annual basis. The FIFA annual awards, by contrast, invite coaches of national teams affiliated to FIFA, numbering more than 200 countries, to cast their votes. The PFA Awards in England is the province of the professionals, where players pick the winners among their colleagues.

The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) awards, a prestigious award in the days of yore, was traditionally restricted to an elite few. These individuals formed a selection committee comprising experts before picking the winner. This year, it's open to all members of SAM. A step that is designed to involve members.

So come Feb 20, journalists who have access to the athletes, the sports fraternity and statistics, will pick the winner or winners of the SAM-100 Plus awards to be graced by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

The shortlisted candidates are Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Azizulhasni Awang, Daniel Bego, Leong Mun Yee-Pandelela Rinong and the women's badminton team.

Another highly anticipated event is the sports journalism awards. More than 100 entries have been submitted for the six categories.

KL 31 Buenos Aires 58

We lost the bid to host the 2013 IOC Congress by 27 votes to Buenos Aires, the land that gave us Diego Maradona, Kun Aguero, Mario Kempes, Alfredo di Stefano and Daniel Pasarella, not forgetting Gabriela Sabatini, a short while ago during the IOC session in Vancouver.

My question is, was there a committee formed to carry this task to illustrate our seriousness or was it a last minute arrangement with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)? Bidding for events of this magnitude requires co-operation and support from all parties.

Remember how the Kuala Lumpur City Hall under Tan Sri Elyas Omar supported the 1998 Commonwealth Games bid? A high-powered committee was formed to take the Games to Asia for the first time and we did! Studies and efforts were made to discover nations friendly and unfriendly to our bid and canvassing for support became the main task for a lot of people, especially sports leaders in positions of power in the continental and world bodies.

So, a video message from the Prime Minister does not necessarily translate into votes!

I love Legend Water Chalet

It was a few years back that loose cannon took his family to Legend Water Chalets in Port Dickson, spending his hard-earned money for a day of rejuvenation, not a romantic getaway, what with a baby and a toddler forming part of the entourage. The family came back feeling that the place was designed with honeymooners in mind. Next time loose cannon will make sure the entourage stays at home so that he and the wifey can rekindle the romance!

The Malay Mail's revelation on the National Sports Council's extravagance for purchasing two units of the exact chalet that loose cannon and family had stayed is timely. It serves as a timely reminder to NSC that proper procedures and due dilligence must always be observed and performed.

1. Should NSC buy the units in the first place?

2. For whom are they for?

3. Was the investment worth it?

Loose cannon is OK with the purchase since every statutory body has a place to call its retreat. Loose cannon had been to a few in Fraser's Hills and Cameron Highlands. If the cash had remained in the coffers, in hindsight it would have been spent for something else, knowing how the NSC functioned from 2004 to 2008.

The price by now may have shot through the roof. If NSC is scraping the bottom of the barrel, they have the option of selling the place.

Now if this purchase was put under the microscope by the MACC, loose cannon wonders why other questionable and dubious spendings are not under scrutiny!

Read Ministry's reactions here, that the chalet was supposed to a secret here and the Malay Mail revelation here. And of course Citizen Nades' brutal take here.

Pemergian Pak Alwi ditangisi

Harris Fadillah Osman, dulunya dianggap pengganti mutlak Rosman

Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, antara pengasas lumba basikal Kuala Lumpur

Salam takziah kukirimkan kepada keluarga Allahyarham Pak Alwi Ahmad juga kepada Zainal Abidin Hassan atas kematian ibu tercinta.

Pemergian Pak Alwi, seorang pejuang lumba basikal, sudah tentu diratapi. Baca di sini. Baca sumbangan teman sekampung Rosman di sini dan kenanganku mengekori Alfa Pak Alwi di sini.

Arwahnya tidak banyak bercakap. Namun antara watak di balik tabir yang menghidupkan lumba basikal di Kuala Lumpur.

Banyak yang kupelajari membuat liputan lumba basikal sepanjang 90-an, termasuk tuduh-menuduh di kalangan orang kuat sukan itu mengenai "buatan orang".

Al-Fatihah buat Pak Alwi, moga rohnya ditempatkan di kalangan solihin.

Subkhiddin for Africa

If everything goes according to plan, Malaysia will finally have a representative on the pitch, officiating a FIFA World Cup match.

Teacher Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, according to the-afc.com, is one of four referees to be appointed for the South Africa edition in June-July. Malaysia's previous representatives were assistant referees the late Halim Abdul Hamid in France'98 and Mat Lazim Awang Hamad in South Korea-Japan 2002.

Subkhiddin's inclusion probably came at the expense of Aussie Matthew Breeze who is considered one of the continent's top referees.

Subkhiddin's prospects were believed to have taken a huge dent last year when Thanom Borikut, one of his assistant referees, was arrested for alleged murder. In place of Thanom is Singapore's Jeffrey Goh. China's Mu Yuxin completes Subkhiddin's team.

Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh

Zainal Abidin Abu Bakar

S. Kathiravale

Olympian hockey keeper-turned-referee T. Nadarajah

Datuk George Joseph once shared the pitch with Maradona

Subkhiddin's appointment is indeed a timely tribute to his predecessors, notably the late Mohd Nazri Abdullah, who passed away exactly a year and three days ago. Nazri came close to be given the honour but missed out by a whisker in the 90s. Read here and here.

Our referees over the decades have done the country proud, namely Tan Sri Zain Hashim, Datuk George Joseph, T. Nadarajah, S. Kathiravale, Mohd Noor Saud, Patrick Nice, Koh Guan Kiat, Othman Omar, Othman Kamaluddin, Steven Ovinis and Nik Ahmad Yaakub to name a few, without getting the opportunity to officiate at the most prestigious sporting extravaganza. Subkhiddin has earned the distinction at the age of 43 and four months, one year shy of the FIFA age limit. But I wonder who next after the teacher from Penang? This question must be posed to ex-referee, Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari.

The rest of the Asian team, as reported by the-afc.com, are: 1. Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (KSA) Assistant Referee 1: Hassan Kamranifar (Irn) Assistant Referee 2: Saleh Mohamed Al Marzouqi (UAE)

2.Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzb) Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzb) Assistant Referee 2: Bahadyr Kochkarov (Kgz)

3. Referee: Mohd Salleh Subkhiddin (Mas) Assistant Referee 1: Yuxin Mu (Chn) Assistant Referee 2: Jeffrey Goh Gek Pheng (Sin)

4.Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Jpn) Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (Jpn) Assistant Referee 2: Hae Sang Jeong (Kor)

The FIFA Referees Committee met on Friday to announce the appointments. A total of 30 referees representing 28 different countries will be in action for the world showcase of football.

The group of 30 trios of referees selected will participate in a training seminar next month.
In May, a final assessment will be conducted and a decision made regarding the acting and support referees prior to the first match appointments being made for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Houllier and I, part one

Actually, I personally do not rate Gerard Houllier. To me, he is a coach associated with failures. Really. I remember the tragedy at Parc des Princes in November 1993, when Emil Kostadinov's last-gasp winning goal crushed the hopes of a generation that boasted Jean-Pierre Papin, David Ginola and Eric Cantona - the latter two having never played in the World Cup. The coach - Houllier.

In Liverpool, most of Houllier's signings were basically nondescript.

But if one studies the factors leading to France's 1998 World Cup success and the concept of academy (centre-de-formation) which helped nurture hundreds of top-class footballers, Houllier's contribution cannot be denied.

Three times I have had the good fortune of coming face to face with the man.

In 1997, he brushed aside my question on the speculation linking him to the England FA job.

In 2005, he refused to mention any name when I asked him before the entire family of Asian coaches attending the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Symposium on who was the recently deceased French coach widely respected by the generation of Giresse, Tigana and Fernandez.

In 2010, however, I managed to leave a mark. In my desire to interview Houllier for the Kerusi VIP column for EPLx Kosmo! and obtain unanswered questions that harked back to 1997, I took the trouble to catch him on three occasions during the Asean Football Federation (AFF) seminar for technical directors. On the pitch, off the pitch and in between classes!

Apart from these glowing words for loose cannon, Monsieur Houllier gave me a FFF pen

That's France Under-21 coach Eric Mombaerts on the left, loose cannon and Monsieur Houllier.