The choice of the future of Malaysian sports
The debate on whether Malaysian sports should make a drastic change to allow the young and vibrant to helm the sports associations or still rely on the old school – the experienced but aging – has been ongoing for a longtime.
But a check with the sports associations in the country, it is quite clear the ‘old timers’ and politicians, still hold court.
Has the experienced, aged officials and politicians, led Malaysian sports to a different or higher level in recent years……is subjective.
While in some sports, the presence of the experienced and older officials, and even politicians, has put their sports on a higher pedestal, but a majority have seen their sports rot, decline or have not moved forward to keep up with demands and progress of modern day sports.
The older and experienced sport officials have been accused of running bankrupt of ideas, no longer relevant with the fast development of sports these days, are holding on to their positions for their own personal gain, the trips and still being recognised by society, but not doing much for the progress of the sports or the athletes.
Newly appointed Sports Commissioner last week, the former National Sports Council (NSC) deputy director-general (strategic), Suhardi Alias, hit a raw nerve when on his appointment, had said that it is time for sports be led by the younger generation or former sportsmen and sportswomen.
What Suhardi had said holds water and needs to be addressed, especially coming from a man who was involved in sports management for over 30 years and is knowledgeable, having held various posts, including National Sports Association Rating Committee member with the Olympic Council of Malaysia in 2009, chairman and pioneer of the National Sports Management course and the person who drafted the National Sports Science course, of which he is also an instructor.
Suhardi who holds a Bachelor of Science (Dietetics) from University of Malaysia (UKM) and Diploma in Advance Sports Management from the International Olympics Council (IOC), has also involved in preparing the National Sports Industry Road Map and National Sports Vision 2030.
Suhardi who has always been known to engage the stakeholders and coming to a common consensus decision, when contacted told that he will be first discussing his views of on more younger, vibrant sportsmen and sportswomen helming national sports associations with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
He also stressed that a discussion will have to be held with the current national sports officials on their views and stand.
Suhardi agreed that it going to be a difficult path as thoughts may differ as it means continuing with the experienced, as against the young and untried.
Suhardi said that it is going to be a heated discussion as probably both groups will have their merits in discussions,
Without doubt it is going to be Catch 22 situation.
There was an unwritten rule that politicians do not helm sports associations, but while it was adhered for sometime, it has taken a back seat again.
As for ‘old timers’ helming sports associations, while there has been a strong call for them to be replaced by the young and former sportsmen and sportswomen, but there have been cases where the ‘old timers’ have done well for the association and still do.
Take for example, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress president, Datuk Dr P S Nathan who had led the association since founding it in 1974.
But credit to him, he has not only lifted the sport which was known as a ‘parlour game’ to international standards and a source of medals for the nation, popularise the sports to become a family game and with good development programme constantly produce young bowlers who who rise to become international ranked bowlers.
Besides, he has brought the association to be financially stable.
In fairness to him, he has also had succession plans to take over from him but somehow no eligible candidates have surfaced.
Several years ago, I asked him, when he was going to pass the baton to someone else, and Nathan who turns 89 on Nov 3 said: “I am a medical doctor and with my age, I have to pass a test every year to continue my practice.
“If I am fit to carry out my duties as a doctor, don’t you think I am capable of running a sport association?”
I could not argue my case any more and with him still continuing to bring the sports of tenpin bowling to greater heights and financially keep the association in a comfortable zone.
But Suhardi made another pertinent point when he said that whoever helms a sports association, they should always strive to see the association progress to spill over to benefit and take care the welfare of the athletes.
Indeed, another subject which is always argued is “Are sports officials present because of athletes, or athletes exist because of officials?”
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