Wednesday, March 17, 2010

BAM secretary suspended?

GANGA'S REACTION

Suspended ( or rather soon to be ) Badminton Association of Malaysia Hon. Secretary P. Ganga Rao was neither shocked nor surprised when contacted last night.

" If what you are telling me is true, then so be it, " said Ganga.

" I have not been informed about it and really I will have to await for official notification.

" I have always put the interest of badminton as a priority and will continue to do so.

" if they ( BAM ) feel that I have acted against the interest of badminton, then I have nothing to say.

" Let us wait for the show cause letter and take it from there.

" I am aware of certain quarters claiming that I have acted against the interest of BAM and will reveal all at the right forum."

Ganga added that he believed that in the end the truth will prevail.

It is learnt that BAM President Dato Nadzmi, General Manager Kenny Goh and Peter Yeow made a representation to the BAM Patron for the suspension of Ganga. - http://ssdhaliwal.blogspot.com


ORIGINAL POSTING, 8.30pm WEDNESDAY 17/3

Move over, Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

The more pressing issue is the rumour swirling around the corridors of BA of Malaysia (BAM) that its secretary P. Ganga Rao is to be issued a letter of suspension upon his return from Melbourne tomorrow.

BAM apparently has gathered enough evidence to initiate a disciplinary action against Ganga for alleged misconduct. The mainstream media is expected to go to town with the story, two months ahead of the Thomas Cup finals in Kuala Lumpur.

BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh who is bound for a medical treatment in Germany for a month beginning Friday, is said to have given the go-ahead for action to be taken against Ganga.

FAM and ULC press release




Loose cannon received an e-mail with two attachments a short while ago.




FAM PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISSUE ON HARIMAU MUDA IN SLOVAKIA

INTRODUCTION

• IN THE WAKE OF SEVERE CRITICISM AIMED AT THE FA OF MALAYSIA PERTAINING TO THE SLOVAKIAN STINT FOR THE HARIMAU MUDA A TEAM, THE SECRETARIAT IS COMPELLED TO CLARIFY A FEW ISSUES RAISED BY THE MEDIA.

• THOUGH THE SECRETARIAT WISHES TO REFRAIN FROM QUESTIONING THE
MOTIVES OF CERTAIN QUARTERS IN HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE, THERE IS A
NEED TO CLEAR THE AIR ARISING FROM ONE MEDIA REPORT THAT WAS
PUBLISHED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, CASTING ASPERSIONS OVER THE POSITION
OF THE HARIMAU MUDA TEAM IN SLOVAKIA.

• IT NEEDS TO BE REITERATED THE OBJECTIVE OF SENDING THE HARIMAU
MUDA TEAM TO SLOVAKIA IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
NATIONAL TEAM IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT SEA GAMES IN 2011, WHICH IS TO DEFEND THE GOLD MEDAL. IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVEL GAMES AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUNG TIGERS.

• IT WAS FAM’S COLLECTIVE DECISION TO SEND THE TEAM TO SLOVAKIA AND
NOT AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.

• FAM DID NOT GO ON A FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN NOR MADE ANY REQUEST
TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR FUNDING TO SEND THE TEAM. ALL COST IS BORNE BY HRH THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. THUS, THERE IS NO PUBLIC FUND INVOLVED AND IT IS SOLELY AN FAM INITIATIVE.

BELOW IS THE
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE STINT IN SLOVAKIA FOR MOHD AZRAAI KHOR ABDULLAH AND HIS TEAM.

BACKGROUND

• AFTER HARIMAU MUDA BECAME THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS IN 2009, THE FAM TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED TO THE FAM COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE/INCLUDE THE TEAM IN THE SUPER LEAGUE 2010.

• THE COMPETITION COMMITTEE ENDORSED THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE’S
RECOMMENDATION AND HARIMAU MUDA WAS INCLUDED AS ONE OF THE
SUPER LEAGUE TEAMS FOR 2010 SEASON.

• UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAM COUNCIL ON 7 DECEMBER 2009 OPPOSED THE IDEA.

• HARIMAU MUDA TEAM WAS THUS LEFT IN A LURCH WITHOUT ANY COMPETITION TO PARTICIPATE IN. AS THIS TEAM, BEING AN UNDER-21 TEAM, HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE SEA GAMES IN 2011, THE FAM SECRETARIAT THEN WAS TASKED TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER LEAGUES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION.

• FAM APPROACHED FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (FAS) AS WELL
AS THE SLOVAK FA. FAS WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE TEAM BUT DUE TO
TIME CONTRAINTS, WE WERE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “S” LEAGUE.
FORTUNATELY THE SLOVAK FA WAS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FAM.

SLOVAK FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

• ON 26TH JANUARY 2010, FAM RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM SLOVAK
FA STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO OBJECTION, PROVIDED IT IS ACCEPTED BY
THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS, THE BODY THAT MANAGES THE SLOVAK
FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

• SUBSEQUENTLY, ON 27TH JANUARY 2010, THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUB OF
SLOVAKIA WROTE TO FAM SAYING THAT THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS, PROVIDED FAM IS AGREEABLE TO THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

FAM FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EXCO

• UPON GETTING THIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE, THE FAM DEPUTY PRESIDENT,
WHO IS ALSO THE TECHNICAL CHAIRMAN AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY,
HAD AN AUDIENCE WITH HRH THE PRESIDENT TO OBTAIN HRH’S BLESSINGS.

• UPON GETTING HRH THE PRESIDENT’S CONSENT, THE MATTER WAS TABLED
AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EXCO ON 31 JANUARY 2010. BOTH THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE EXCO APPROVED THE PARTICIPATION OF
HARIMAU MUDA IN THE SLOVAK LEAGUE.

• THE GENERAL SECRETARY WAS THEN SENT TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS WITH
THE SLOVAK FA AND THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 2010.

• THE DECISION TO SEND THE TEAM TO SLOVAKIA WAS NOT A ONE MAN’S
DECISION. IT WAS APPROVED BY HRH THE PRESIDENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY
ENDORSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE EXCO.

GENERAL SECRETARY’S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA


• HAD A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SLOVAK FA AND THE PRESIDENT
OF UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS PRESIDENTS.

• BOTH THE PRESIDENTS WELCOMED THE PARTICIPATION OF THE MALAYSIAN
U21 TEAM AS THIS IS SOMETHING NEW TO THEM AND THEY EXPECT TO
CREATE INTEREST AMONG THEIR LEAGUE TEAMS AND SUPPORTERS.

• AT THAT POINT OF TIME IT WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE GENERAL SECRETARY
THAT THE MALAYSIAN TEAM WILL PLAY ACCORDING TO THE LEAGUE
SCHEDULE.

• IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT POINTS WILL BE AWARDED TO THEIR TEAM
FOR A WIN AND A DRAW BUT NOT TO THE MALAYSIAN TEAM.

• FAM HAS TO FULFILL THE LEAGUE FEES LIKE ANY OTHER SLOVAK TEAM AND
BEAR THE COST FOR GAME ORGANISATION SUCH AS STADIUM RENTAL, FEES
FOR THE ADMINISTRATORS, MATCH OFFICIALS, BALL BOYS, MEAL FOR THE
OFFICIALS AND VISITING TEAM ETC.

• THE ABOVE POINTS WERE CONVEYED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MALAYSIAN
MEDIA DURING THE PC HELD ON 19TH FEBRUARY 2010.

CONCLUSION

• THERE IS NOTHING TO LIE OR HIDE TO THE MEDIA ON THIS ISSUE.

• THE TEAM GET TO PLAY 14 HIGH QUALITY MATCHES WITH 14 SLOVAK DIV
ONE LEAGUE CLUBS AND NUMEROUS FRIENDLY MATCHES IN BETWEEN THE
LEAGUE SCHEDULE, ON AN AVERAGE 0F ONE MATCH PER WEEK.

• OVER AND ABOVE THAT, 4 FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL MATCHES WITH
POLAND, AUSTRIA, CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY UNDER 21 TEAMS HAVE
BEEN ARRANGED.

• THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS, YB DATO’ RAZALI IBRAHIM
AND DATO’ ZOLKPLES EMBONG, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NATIONAL SPORTS
COUNCIL (NSC), WHO WERE THERE ON 6TH MARCH 2010 TO WITNESS THE
2ND GAME THE HARIMAU MUDA PLAYED, CAN TESTIFY ON THE STANDARD OF
THE MATCH THAT WAS PLAYED.

• ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE HAS OFFERED PLACES TO TWO OR
THREE PLAYERS TO BE ATTACHED TO THEIR CLUB.

• UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS HAS OFFERED FAM TO PARTICIPATE IN FULL
SEASON OF THE LEAGUE, FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY TO
MAY 2011. WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISION ON THIS OFFER.

• CREATING CONTROVERSIES OVER NOTHING WOULD CREATE A BAD IMAGE
FOR FAM AND MAY AFFECT THE MORALE TO THE TEAM.

• WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR BOYS THERE BY GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT FOR
THE BETTERMENT OF THE NATIONAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE RATHER THAN
PICKING UP PETTY ISSUES OVER NOTHING.

• IF THE LEAGUE MATCH IS NOT SERIOUSLY VIEWED AND GIVEN EMPHASIS,
THEN THEY WILL NOT BE PLAYING ON A SNOW FILLED FIELD AS ILLUSTRATED
IN ONE OF THE MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPERS ON MARCH 15.

• THE START LIST OF THE OPPOSING TEAM LISTED ALL THE CLUBS REGISTERED
PLAYERS.

• ON THE QUESTION OF CHEFS FROM MSN BEING SENT TO SLOVAKIA, IT IS
BASED ON RELIGIOUS AND DIETARY REASONS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME
CHEFS WERE ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT A NATIONAL TEAM ABROAD. TO QUOTE
A FEW CASES; THE LAST SEA GAMES IN VIENTIANNE, NATIONAL HOCKEY
TEAM IN NEW ZEALAND ETC. ABOVE ALL THE CHEFS ARE THERE TO PREPARE
FOOD ACCORDING TO THE PLAYER’S DIETARY AND RELIGIOUS
REQUIREMENTS, NOT TO SERVE MALAYSIAN DISHES ON A DAILY BASIS. THE
HOTEL WHERE THE TEAM IS STAYING DOES SERVE HALAL FOOD AND THERE
ARE NO HALAL RESTUARANTS IN THE VICINITY OF VION FOOTBALL CENTRE.

• WITH THIS PRESS RELEASE FAM HOPES THE ISSUE IS PUT TO REST.

16 March 2010
Football Association of Malaysia
WISMA FAM
JALAN SS 5A/9, KELANA JAYA, 47301 PETALING JAYA
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN

Astro Arena - channel 801

For sports buffs who constantly surf the channels from 811 to 832 (for those fortunate enough to have Astro on HD), add 801 to your list of favourites.

Astro Arena: Nadi Sukan Malaysia, Malaysia's first and only 24-hour local sports channel in Bahasa Malaysia, is finally set to launch tomorrow at the Wisma OCM.

Contrary to a TV3 report recently, selected Super League matches will be broadcast over Astro Arena.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Surat terbuka buat Presiden BAM

Pengarang Sukan Berita Harian, Norbakti Alias, menulis surat terbuka buat presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Nadzmi Salleh, hari ini. Ia bersifat satu amaran agar Nadzmi tidak menjadi mangsa konspirasi mainan Tok Dalang di BAM. Siapakah dalang yang dimaksudkan oleh Norbakti?



Surat terbuka buat Datuk Nadzmi


2010/03/16

KE hadapan Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Salleh, Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia.

Assalamualaikum, Datuk

TERLEBIH dahulu saya memohon maaf kiranya surat ini dianggap mengganggu ketenteraman Datuk. Merujuk kepada perkara di atas, ini adalah kali pertama saya menulis surat kepada Datuk tetapi ini adalah surat kedua yang sama pentingnya ditulis oleh saya dalam tempoh sebulan ini.

Kita sedar kejayaan Datuk Lee Chong Wei menjuarai Seluruh England sebagai sesuatu yang melegakan Datuk ketika persiapan menghadapi Piala Thomas di Kuala Lumpur nampak kurang menggalakkan.

Namun ia tidak harus menyembunyikan hakikat tidak semuanya dalam BAM aman damai.
Saya terpanggil untuk menulis surat terbuka kepada Datuk selepas melihat suasana huru-hara yang dicetus pegawai BAM sehingga bukan sahaja menimbulkan keresahan di kalangan petugas di pejabat persatuan, anggota Majlis BAM, jurulatih serta pemain sendiri malah persiapan skuad Piala Thomas dan Uber negara sedikit sebanyak terjejas akibat perbuatan pegawai berkenaan yang lebih sudu daripada kuah.

Saya percaya Datuk sedia maklum selepas berpeluang berjumpa sendiri dengan beberapa pemain, sesuatu pertemuan yang gagal diatur untuk Datuk oleh pegawai itu.
Ada yang ditakut-takutkan semata-mata kerana tidak sependapat dengan pegawai itu, yang saya percaya Datuk sedia maklum siapa yang dimaksudkan. Mungkin Datuk tidak menyedari tapi itulah hakikatnya apabila pegawai itu kini mendabik dada mengatakan BAM adalah dia dan dia adalah BAM.

'Kuasa' yang dimilikinya sudah menjadikan pegawai ini mengandaikan dirinya mengatasi segalanya apabila menggunakan nama Datuk dan nama VVIP sewenang-wenangnya untuk menghalalkan segala tindakannya.

Tajaan terbaru yang diperolehi BAM sendiri sudah cukup membuktikan bagaimana Datuk sendiri dipinggirkan. Di depan Datuk, dia 'menjual' nama VVIP bagi 'menakutkan' Datuk manakala di hadapan penaja lama, nama Datuk pula 'dijualnya' untuk melepaskan dirinya.

Perbuatannya selama ini menjadi 'halal' kerana dia sedar tiada siapa yang berani membuat pengesahan daripada VVIP atau Datuk sendiri.

Taktik ini sebenarnya bukan asing dalam BAM dan penyakit ini sukar diubati selagi badminton terus mendapat perhatian tinggi orang kenamaan.

Cuma saya berharap Datuk tidak menjadi mangsa konspirasi khususnya selepas kempen Piala Thomas nanti.

Mungkin Datuk tidak menyedari sudah ada pihak yang mahu menggunakan keadaan kesihatan Datuk sebagai satu liabiliti kepada BAM walaupun sebelum ini, merekalah yang bersungguh-sungguh mahukan Datuk mempertahankan kerusi presiden sewaktu pemilihan BAM akhir tahun lalu. Tapi itu cuma rancangan dalam menghalang seseorang daripada bertanding untuk jawatan itu.

Namun jangan terkejut selepas Mei nanti, pihak itu akan menggunakan peluang 'menyingkirkan' Datuk, sama seperti situasi yang pernah dialami Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan pada 2000. Sebab itulah pegawai ini tidak ambil peduli mengenai peluang skuad Piala Thomas negara, malah sanggup mengucar-kacirkan persiapan dengan tindakannya.

Perancangan ini sudah saya dengar sejak tahun lalu lagi dan dengan apa yang berlaku ketika ini, segalanya nampak semakin hampir menjadi kenyataan.

Rasanya masih belum terlewat untuk Datuk memulihkan keadaan khususnya menjelang Piala Thomas ini sambil membuktikan Datuk bukan jenis orang yang boleh diperkotak-katikkan oleh pegawai sedemikian.

Jangan nanti orang hanya mentertawakan Datuk kerana sistem ‘kaizen’ yang mahu diterapkan dalam BAM selama ini, hanya satu lawak ketika kudis sebenar BAM tidak diubati.

Mungkin kesilapan Datuk adalah terlalu mempercayai pegawai itu sehingga dia bebas melakukan apa sahaja. Barangkali selepas ini, Datuk tidak lagi sekadar mendengar satu pihak sahaja kerana pokok tidak bergoyang tanpa angin.

Namun saya percaya Datuk masih berkemampuan memperbetulkan keadaan sebelum Datuk sama-sama diheret menanggung masalah dicetus pegawai ini.

Saya tidak mempunyai sebarang agenda peribadi biarpun ada tuduhan yang dilemparkan termasuk menerima bayaran daripada pegawai itu selama ini. Teguran ikhlas ini bertujuan memperbetulkan keadaan sebelum terlambat.

Yang ikhlas,
Norbakti Alias

TM, England and the Red Devils


Today Telekom Malaysia will announce a one-year deal with the English FA which gives the telco licensing, IP and dealership rights to produce and distribute selected merchandise bearing the crest of the FIFA World Cup-bound England team. In short TM is the official telco licensee for the FA. This comes only days after TM signed a five-year deal with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Friday March 12, 2010

Manchester United and TM ink partnership deal

BY M. VEERA PANDIYAN


MANCHESTER: Manchester United (MU) and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) have forged a five-year agreement to link the two brands in marketing campaigns and promotional activities.

With the deal, TM becomes the English Premier League champion’s official integrated telecommunications partner in Malaysia with licensing, intellectual property (IP) and dealership rights to produce and distribute merchandises bearing the club’s crest and team images.

TM’s brand and association with MU will be showcased to 4.2 million fans in Malaysia and more than 330 million fans and football followers worldwide.

TM Group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa receiving a TM Manchester United jersey from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford

The partnership deal, the financial commitments of which were undisclosed, was announced at Old Trafford yesterday by TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa and MU chief executive officer David Gill.

MU manager Sir Alex Ferguson were among those present, along with TM vice-president for group marketing Sherene Azura Azli, and MU commercial director Richard Arnold.

Zamzamzairani described the partnership as “the union of two great brands.”

“We are indeed very happy seeing two champions in their respective fields coming together. TM, one of Malaysia’s most dynamic and innovative telecoms brands, and Manchester United, one the world’s most recognised sports brands and successful football clubs,” he said.

Loyal TM customers and new subscribers will benefit from the partnership by getting opportunities to win trips to Manchester to watch MU home matches in special promotions and contests throughout the five-year contract period.

Zamzanzairani said the deal would cover a broad marketing platform for TM’s products and services, including iTalk prepaid calling cards, Streamyx broadband service and its broadband TV portal, Hypp.TV (www.hypp.tv).

It will also provide MU fans and TM customers in Malaysia access to MU’s latest news, fan videos, team profiles and online contests. Visitors need only register as a member on Hypp.TV, to view the contents and be part of the online fan activities.

Meanwhile, Gill said MU’s tour of the Far East last year showed the strength of feeling that Malaysians had for the club.

“We know that this partnership will help the club to reach the millions of fans we have in Malaysia and MU are delighted that TM has developed from sponsor of a tour match into a full-fledged partner,” he said. — BY M. VEERA PANDIYAN

Monday, March 15, 2010

Good job Datuk!

Good job Datuk Lee Chong Wei for bagging the All-England men's singles title a short while ago at the expense of unseeded Kenichi Tago, 21-19, 21-19. Chong Wei who could have pursued a career in basketball, became only the fifth Malaysian to scoop the title, after Wong Peng Soon, Eddy Choong, Tan Aik Huang and Hafiz Hashim.

But I hope we don't go overboard in lavishing him with rewards. A long stretch of road in Penang named after him, a piece of land or a pile of cash - all can wait until he hangs up his racket. For now we should encourage him to go one better than the silver in Beijing Olympics and perhaps the World Championship. It is however interesting to note Datuk Misbun Sidek has the distinction of having guided two shuttlers to the All-England title and two to the Olympic podium.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Salon FIFA - Nazri Abdullah

Subkhiddin Salleh, who is almost certain to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in June-July, pays homage to Nazri. Pic from his facebook wall.


It was a nice gesture from FIFA in bringing Mohd Nazri Abdullah's family to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, south east of Tenerife in Canary Island, Spain, on an all-expenses trip, business class all the way.

It was nicer still for the management of Hotel Melia Tamarindos, where the nation's foremost referee drew his last breath in February 2009, to immortalise his name on one of its halls.

Nazri's widow Rodziah Abdul Rahman and their kids Nur Nabilah, Nur Nadia Syafiqah, Mohamed Aliff and Mohamed are currently in Las Palmas to commemorate Nazri's demise a year ago.