So dumb! (The Malay Mail)

THE Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) are off and running again -
flying in the face of commonsense.
 The MAAU intend to go ahead with a RM1 million to RM1.5 million show
when everybody else is counting every sen and cutting costs.
 The MAAU want to hold a big party - a grand Malaysian Open on May 21-24
at the Main Stadium in Bukit Jalil - as a prelude to the Commonwealth
Games.
 Typically, MAAU do not have the funds and are banking on Sukom Ninety
Eight Berhad, the Games organisers, to provide the money.
 MAAU, in justifying the move, give several reasons which ring hollow
when the nation is grappling with an economic crisis.
 MAAU claim they need to stage the bash because it is their 40th
anniversary.
 The other reasons: Sukom can use the event to assess whether the track
is up to standards; a good show is essential for the image of the country
and that at least 27 countries will attend to make it the biggest ever
athletics meet.
 The big budget, explain MAAU, is because they will pay for the food and
accommodation of the visiting athletes.
 The MAAU are even considering getting sponsors to fork out big bucks as
appearance fees to stars like Donovan Bailey, Jonathan Edwards and Cathy
Freeman.
 It really makes nonsense of the Government's austerity drive and
constant reminders not to waste money.
 Why pay so much to watch Bailey and company when they will be in KL for
the Commonwealth Games just four months later?
 Do MAAU really need world class athletes to test the facilities at the
stadium?
 In contrast, the Badminton Association of Malaysia, a much richer and
more successful sports body, are considering cancelling this year's
Malaysian Open to save money.
 And the highly successful and well organised Malaysian Tenpin Bowling
Congress (MTBC), who have been given the flexibility by the Sports
Ministry to spend if necessary, are reducing their budget.
 Though the MTBC have asked participating teams of the Commonwealth Games
to compete in their Malaysian Open in March at Sunway Pyramid, the venue
of the Games, they will have to foot their own expenses.
 National coach Sid Allen said: "Why should we pay for their presence
here when they want to familiarise themselves for the Commonwealth Games?
 "We already know the standards of our rivals and where we stand against
them. There is little advantage for us in bringing them here to compete in
the Malaysian Open.
 "Besides, they might not be at their best and we may end up gaining
nothing from their presence.
 "Instead, it will be the visiting bowlers who will benefit by competing
here."
 As usual, it takes someone else to show the MAAU the error of their
ways, just like when they lost their Genting corporate partner. Some
things never change.
                              (END)