Remember Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar.
The 52-year was the  assistant general secretary of the FA of Malaysia (FAM) till 2009.
Saifuddin, made a return to the FAM fold in 2008  November.
He left FAM to take up a job offer with a private organisation based in the Middle East in June 2009.
 Saifuddin had previously worked with the FAM for eight years as the head of the competitions department before taking up employment with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as an officer in a similar department for four years.
Currently, he is Oman FA Pro-League technical consultant.
See story below:

 

Top of the World - The Malay Mail

48th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, Wroclaw, Poland (Nov 24 - Dec 1)

Check on the latest updates and stories at thebowlingmag.blogspot.com or www.sports247.com.my

The trophies

Don't miss out of the exclusive coverage from Wroclaw!

Latest Special Issue of The Bowling Mag (Nov-Dec)

Latest October/November Issue of The Bowling Mag

NUJ makes its stand

NUJ has made its stand on the matter and can we now expect the Sportwriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) to make a stand too?

 

12 OCTOBER, 2012

  PRESS STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ)

Stop harassing sports writers.

 

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) calls on the National Sports Council and national sports
associations to stop intimidating sports writers by sending legal notice for publishing unfavourable
reports about them.

 The reporters, just like journalists operating in other beats, are carrying out their public duties to serve their audience, be it readers, viewers or listeners.

 They carry public interest stories as the development of sports are closely followed by the young and old.

 The government allocates funds to develop and promote sports events and journalists have the

right to expose wrong doings and mismanagement.

 The NUJ believe sports writers and their media organisations subscribe to fair reporting which

includes giving aggrieved parties the right to reply.

 The practice of sending notice of demand to critical sports writers tantamount to intimidating

them from pursuing investigative reporting.

 We assure sports writers that the NUJ will spring into action, including defend their right to

carry out their duties free from harassment.

 Our call is in response to two former Malay Mail reporters who have been issued letters of

demand by the NSC for stories published last year and this year.

 One of the reports is a subject matter in court now.

 We have also received feedbacks that reporters occasionally received legal notices but

the aggrieved parties did not pursue further like filing legal suits.

 Thank you.

V. Anbalagan
General Secretary

Time to crack the whip, FAM (The Malay Mail)

I wrote this piece for the Valley Voice column in The Malay Mail which appeared on 10th April 1995.
17 years down the road, I am just wondering how much has changed. or how many things are still relevant.
Have we moved forward or still making the same mistakes and the game has not improved either.
You be the judge of it.
Happy reading.

THE Premier League will go fully professional next season after seven
years since its birth as a semi-pro competition.
  But in tandem with full professionalism, it is high time for the FA of
Malaysia to crack the whip on errant or deadwood FAs.
  For a start, FAM should stop pampering the state FAs.
  Let them fend for themselves. Stop spoon-feeding them with the yearly
handout of RM500,000, which is only a minimum.
  At the beginning when the League was in its infancy, it was fine to help
the  States get prepared with financial aid.
  The States have learnt to walk, so to speak, and it is about time, they
learn to be independent.
  State FAs have often complained about difficulties in securing
additional funds because of the existing circumstances.
  The barrier that holds back other sponsors are the advantages being
enjoyed by the major sponsors and co-sponsors of the League and FAM.
  The existing sponsors have the rights to prominent advertising space at
stadiums and players' jerseys.
  As a result, other sponsors are reluctant to come in because they feel
that they don't get a good deal. They either shy away, have conflicting
interest or come in only for a token sum.
  As this is the main complaint, FAM should put the State FAs to a test by
stopping the annual financial contribution and let them get their own
sponsors.
  One can look at it this way. The States FAs are not really earnest in
hunting for sponsors because they know the money from FAM is ready for
them annually.
  As a result, they make little efforts to raise funds or look into other
avenues.
  To be fair, several States do really try to improve themselves. With
proper management, they have ventured into business like sports management
and are doing well.
  There are some lucky ones who have their State Governments helping them
financially. This again makes the State FAs sit down comfortably and
forget their tasks.
  In some cases, even with the FAM subsidies, the State FAs still have
problems managing their set-ups because of lavish spending because the
money they spend is not through their efforts.
  When the very people who were asked to quit their jobs and turn full
professionals got short-changed, the errant State FAs should be hauled up.
  This season, there were several States who have had problems paying the
wages of their players, even running into arrears of two months and more.
  And last season, many players caught for match-fixing in Malaysia's
biggest soccer scandal, claimed that they had to resort to accepting
bribery because their salaries were often not paid on time.
  Of course, that is not an excuse for them to be corrupted, but it was
one factor which State FAs should have recognised and prevented.
  Then, we have State FAs offering substantial bonuses to players for
winning matches but can they afford them?
  It is all right if the State FAs can make these payouts, but some States
have run into debts because they cannot fulfil their promises to the
players.
  But the question is, when the players are professionals and are paid to
do their jobs, why pay them bonuses for wins when it is their duty to do
so.
  It should be more rational to reward the players at the end of the
season or when they qualify for the Malaysia Cup or progress further.
  But when we get State FAs paying bonuses for winning matches but not
winning any honours at the end of the season, one wonders what the bonuses
were for. For failure, perhaps?
  The State FA will have to get their act together for the new season
because there are many unprofessional things occurring in the respective
associations.
  The FAM have even spoon-fed the State FAs by supplying office equipment
like computers, television sets, video-players, photo-stating machines, to
name a few, but there were still certain States who could not operate
efficiently.
  In some States, the Press covering matches even have difficulties
getting team-lists, let alone decent table and chairs to work on.
  Maybe the State FAs have got very comfortable with the handouts from FAM
that they do not want to raise their fingers to get things in order.
  The subsidy given by FAM includes money to be spent on youth development
and administration but there are still many State FAs who have neglected
this.
  They use the bulk or even all the money for their Premier League team,
which includes tours and expensive foreign signings but have nothing to
show at the end of the season.
  There are some State FAs who do not even budget their expenditure for
the season.
  They end up either depending on gate collections, which is not a
guaranteed source of income, or running back to the FAM for advances from
their next season's subsidy!
  There have been times when FAM had to bail out the State FAs after they
could fulfill their obligations to foreign players, who had sought Fifa's
interference.
  If the national body had not bailed out these State FAs, the former
could have ended in hot soup with the international soccer body.
  FAM's current contract with the major sponsors end in 1997 and probably,
it is about time they review the current trend of supporting the State FAs
in line with the League going professional.
  FAM could still secure the sponsors, but use the funds for the various
national teams, national development of coaches, youth development and
technical areas.
  It is also time that only those teams who can manage themselves
independently, which will automatically see them taking a more
professional approach in all aspects because the profit and loss ledger at
the end of the year will determine their very survival, are allowed to
play in the Professional League.
  State FAs who cannot manage themselves well or cannot afford to play in
the Professional League should probably take part in the Amateur League
until a time when they are ready to join the higher echelons.
  It does not matter if we can only get eight States who are financially
sound to play in the Professional League because we will at least get a
League with the minimum of problems and a high-quality performance where
the competition will be much keener with all teams fighting to come out
tops. And ultimately, this will put more money in their kitty.
  Food for thought, FAM.

Syafiq and Esther make the quarters

www.sports247@com.my

MUHAMAD SYAFIQ RIDHWAN ABDUL MALEK and Esther Cheah have qualified for the quarter-finals of the inaugural World Singles Bowling Championship Galactica Bowling Centre in Cyprus.

Zulmazaran Zulkilfi missed out when he lost in the Final Step 2 (round two), while Jacqualine Sijore was knocked out in the Final Step 1.

The 24-year-old Muhamad Syafiq from Kuala Lumpur, the top seed will face ninth seed Andres Gomez of Colombia Esther, the 12th seed, will bowl against fourth seeded American Shannon O’Keefe.

Syafiq who had a bye to the second round, defeated veteran PBA bowler, Tore Togersen, the 16th seed 278-195; 220-228; 258-277; 238-191 and 246-194 in the best-of-five games series.

Andres defeated Falah Yusuf from Bahrain in the first round before getting past Kuwait’s Mohammed Kamel in the second round.

Zulmazran the 21st seed, started on a grand note to beat Finland’s 12th seed Kim Lehtonen 299-217; 205-236; 241-248; 246-235; 224-215 to move to the second round.

He then faced fifth seeded American Chris Barnes but lost 279-224;207-228; 278-258; 256 -277-and 236-259.

Esther defeated Ireland’s Hannah Cullen in her first round match 253-198; 233-166; 237-207 to move to the second round against Karen Marcano, the fifth seed from Venezuela.

Esther disposed of Karen 191-233; 215-206; 243-188 and 206-176 to move to the quarterfinals.

A victory for Esther will see her bowl No. 1 seed, Kelly Kulick from USA or Joline Persson-Planefors from Sweden from the other top half quarter-finals tie.

If Syafiq wins, he will face the either Barnes or Khaled Al-Dossary from Qatar.

The quarterfinals will continued to be played over a best of five games, before it will be over one game for semi-finals and final.

Syafiq leads the way

www.sports247@com.my

THE Malaysian bowling team celebrated their Sunday in contrasting fashion at the Galactica Bowling Centre in Cyprus at the end of the first round of 12 games at the World Singles Championship.

Muhamad Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek (picture), was in great form to finish as top seed at the end of the second block of six games to earn an automatic bye to the Final Step Two.

 

 

Esther Cheah, Jacqueline Sijore and Zulmazran Zulkilfi, also qualified for the Final Step rounds, but have to bowl in the Final Step One round.

Esther, who was among the top nine, slid down to 12th while Jacqueline finished 13th. Zulmazran, on the other hand, finished 21st.

The first 24 bowlers after the first round of 12 games qualify for the next round, but the top nine earn a bye to Final Step Two. Bowlers placed 10th to 24th bowl in the Final Step One in a best-of-five matches in a predefined bracket before the winners move to the Final Step Two.

The best-of-five matches format will be used until the quarter-finals. The semi-finals and final will be played over one game.

Syafiq gave a scintillating performance to knockdown 236 in the opening game yesterday, to follow with lines of 258, 215, 247, 211 & 227 for a 1,394 series total and a grand total of 2,773. He was the talk of the town with the media all eager to speak to him (below).



He will now bowl the winner of Romania’s Catalin Gheorghe (17th) against Denmark’s Thomas Larsen (18th). A win over Gheorghe or Larsen will earn Syafiq a quarter-finals berth.

Zulmazran, who finished with 2,357, will have a tough opponent in his Step One round match against 12th placed bowler Finland’s Kimmo Lhtonen.

Esther, who finished second block with a subdued display with lines of 220, 193, 199, 203, 199 and 221 for a combined 2,530 total, will be up against 21st placed Hannah Cullen of Ireland.

Jacqueline gave a much improved performance in her second block despite starting with 197. She went on to fire lines of 255, 203, 234, 190 and 200 for a commendable 1,279 series and a grand total of 2522. She faces Canada’s Isabelle Rioux, who was 20th.

If Esther and Jacqueline win their respective ties, they will face each other in the next round.

American Kelly Kulick topped the women’s round, followed by Russia’s Alena Korobkvoca, Sweden’s Rebecka Larsen and another American, Shannon O’Keefee.

The knockout stage is going to be a different ball game where quick reactions to make line and ball adjustments will be required besides a strong mental state to progress further.



TOUCHING BASE....Syafiq and coach Holloway Cheah getting back news to Malaysia after the event

The Real English!

I think a retired English teacher was bored.

THIS IS GREAT!

 Read all the way to the end.................

This took a lot of work to put together!

You think English is easy?? 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 2) The farm was used to produce produce. 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4) We must polish the Polish furniture. 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10) I did not object to the object. 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13) They were too close to the door to close it. 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.. 19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?  Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ? You lovers of the English language might enjoy this .. There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.' It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning.. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.. A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearingUP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so........it is time to shut UP! Now it's UP to you what you do with this email.   Which is the most Dangerous Letter in the Alphabet Answer is  "W"...  It is a tension generator... All the worries get initiated with "W"...  Who?  Why?  What?  When?  Which?  Whom?  Where?................  War...  Wine..  Whisky  Women....  Wealth  And finally ....... Believe it or not  .......... WIFE...

 

Conquering English!

The Malay Mail of late has been getting quite a bit of flak and it looks like it is not going to stop.
What with circulation dropping and having reached alarming numbers, many journalists jumping ship, many still there but are a discontended lot and the list goes on.
To make matters worse, an internal memo from the Editor-At-Large, Frankie D'Cruz, which was sent to me by a concerned party in The Malay Mail, further questions the quality of the Paper.
The email is reproduced below on an article on Tuesday, which was full of mistakes.
With such deplorable standards, it is little wonder the circulation is dropping everyday.
To top it all, it is learnt that there has been a recent intake to beef up the paper with top notch journalists to check the slide on the quality.
But if the mistakes are still occurring, then one wonders if intake served its purpose at all.
Yes, there are mistakes found in all newspapers these days as the quality of journalism has certainly taken a dip. And sometimes mistakes happen because time constraints, pressure and short of staff. But to find an article littered with mistakes, is certainly not acceptable, especially with a newspaper like The Malay Mail which has a rich history, having been established in 1896!
Read on:

Dear All,

Heading: Concurring English!

It should be conquering English, right. Read on. (Red denotes correct usage)

Heading: Calls for removal of offensive film

1. It’s only a 14-min trailer, it’s not known if the film has been completed. Video clip would be appropriate.

2.Para 21 of the story reads: “YouTube has since blocked the clip from being viewed in Malaysia.....Isn’t this a development that should have been reflected in the heading and intro?)

Doesn’t this cancel off the subhead?

Subhead: Politicians from both divide sides of divide condemn YouTube's refusal to remove video

Join me on a quest to conquer English.

Copy in print reads:

TWO weeks after the country witnessed the most divisive independence day celebrations in recent history, politicians from both divide sides of the divide came together in one voice, on Malaysia day (Day) condemning YouTube’s refusal to remove the a short film entitled 'Innocence of Muslims'.

The 14 minute-clip, which disparages and insults Islam and Prophet Muhammad, was uploaded on YouTube in July 2012 and further gained notoriety when the trailer was dubbed in Arabic and broadcasted broadcast on Egyptian television in September.
The broadcast has led to violent protests across the Middle East which culminated into in the killing of the US ambassador in Libya, Chris Stevens, the first killing of a US ambassador in more than 30 years.

On Saturday, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim called on YouTube through a statement in Bernama to remove the clip and said the Internet giant Google-owned subsidiary was “oblivious to the tumult in the Islamic world”. ...Rais Yatim, in a statement on Saturday, urged YouTube to remove.......

 

Stand by, this is where we CONQUER!

In conquering concurring with this, Rais' deputy minister deputy Datuk Maglin D'Cruz strongly reiterated that the video should be removed with “immediate effect”.

“I strongly believe that the video should be removed with immediate effect. Those who were responsible for putting it n cyberspace do not represent any group and clearly their intent is to create animosity among religions of the world which I strong strongly condemn and rebuke,” he told The Malay Mail.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic) added that it was saddening that such religious hatred was still being practiced practised these days.

“We are supposed to be more educated and understanding and able to respect each others other's religions. Instead of spewing hate, we should be talking about how people of different religions can help each other. We should be going on that path.

“I think times like this show that there are limits to partisan politics. If we can unite on things that are happening overseas, hopefully we can continue this with local issues,” he said.

He also warned Muslims not to resort to violence in protesting against the film. video clip

“I also disapprove with the violent and aggressive protests against the film film-makers. It is important for us to show our protest in an appropriate manner, less lest we will be we be equal to the people who made the film. By all means go out and protest but don’t resort to violence,” he said.

Earlier Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaludin said the party’s wing would hold a major protest against the film film makers this Friday.

“This protest is being held regardless of political differences and hopefully becomes ???? a platform for Muslims to voice out to the world that this irresponsible and insulting act against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad will not be taken lightly.

“Umno Youth welcomes the PAS Youth Assembly’s participation in this protest. This is a universal problem which needs to be addressed immediately, “ he told reporters at an Umno delegates meeting at Permatang Pauh.

PKR vice president Chua Tian Chang agreed that YouTube must re-evaluate the film for its “offensive” why the doubt over offensive? contents. ....must remove the trailer/clip due to its offensive contents

“I personally can I be anything but personal? think that the film is utterly offensive and I believe YouTube has certain policies governing the kind of material uploaded. YouTube must justify whether the film still falls within the tolerated level of free speech,” he said.

PAS national unity bureau chairman Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said there were limits to freedom of speech.

“It is a question whether airing it on YouTube would trigger more violence or not. Even without being aired, the film has already angered the Muslim world. Freedom cannot infringe the sensitivity of others especially religious issues ???? and must be under the protection of the bigger interest ????,” he said.
PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli added that YouTube had a history of removing clips which were deemed offensive and stressed that the short film should not be any different.

However, Rafizi warned the government to not  not to use this case as just cause for future censorship of online contents.

YouTube has since blocked the clip from being viewed in Malaysia and placed a disclosure that “the content is not available in your country due to a legal complaint.”

The video sharing website has placed similar temporary blocks in Egypt and Libya.

The White House has also asked YouTube to review the clip but according to The New York Times, the site stressed that the video “does not violate any terms of service.”

According to Google’s recent transparency report, the South Korean government has made the most requests for removal of contents in Youtube. From July to December 2011 it had asked Google for a 51 ????removals, followed by India, which came in second with 43 requests with US with 38.

For the same period, Malaysia had made less than 10 requests for content removal in Google products.

 

CLOSE TO A STAGGERING 30 ERRORS IN ONE STORY! STAND UP THE ONE/S WHO CONQUERED ENGLISH!

 

Where is the comradeship among the Media fratenity?

 

Media rivalry is fine to see newspaper organisations competing against each other to present the best news and scoops.
But when the Media fraternity gathers together to honour journalists for their expertise, skills or their stories, I strongly feel that we should be one. After all, we are acknowledging our own kind.
And even more so when it is organised by the National Press Club (NPC), our very own club.
But newspapers who carried news today of the awards given by our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday night, saw them highlighting their respective awards.
Nothing wrong with that. After all you need to blow your own trumpet. But what I cannot understand is that none carried the full  list and conveniently left out winners from their rival newspapers.
This is so low down because the fundamentals of news reporting has been ignored - to give news as it is and in full.
What is wrong with printing the full list so that the public is informed of the best in the industry.
Besides this awards is unique and special because for this awards, the candidates  were nominated by their peers. It is always good to see individuals nominating journalists from rival organisations, and this is what makes the NPC Awards all the more credible and rewarding. And yet when it came to announcing the winners, a full list was not published!
In fact, I even think that the story of the awards deserved bigger play up in the respective newspapers.
I really felt sad for Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun, the Group Editor of the New Straits Times and my colleague during his days when he covered sports when he was in Penang, who received the NPC-TM Lifetime Achievement award. His own newspaper run a single column story.
Yes they had a four column picture, but Syed deserved better, even though he himself is a low profile person and would not have wanted the publicity or even instructed that only a single column story see print.

New Straits Times group editor Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun receiving the NPC-Telekom Malaysia Lifetime Achievement award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. With them are National Press Club trustee Datuk Ahirudin Attan (left), TM group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa (second from right) and NPC president Mokhtar Hussain. Pic by Abdullah Yusoff   - NST Picture

But he was news of the day and for all his contributions, he should have been treated with better honour and respect.
The Media fraternity has to come together and be a family when it is about themselves and throw out of the window all the rivalry on these occasions.

FOOTNOTE: NPC organisers of the award should have been more considerate when coming to the award ceremony itself. It could have certainly been done better.
To have the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on stage to give away 15 awards for such a longtime and having him to sit and stand on the stage on so many occasions was certainly inappropriate.
The organisers could have save a lot of time displaying all the nominees for the various categories on big screen probably during dinner and just give away the awards later. Citation for Datuk Syed and winner of the NPC-Ambank Media Legend award to Datuk Abdullah Mohamad could have been exception to be read before the award was given.
But Kudos to the Prime Minister, he stood through the ordeal with a smile! Mind you he had another two functions to attend after the NPC awards ceremony.

FOR THE RECORD:

NPC Photographer Of The Year Award

Nominees:

1) Glenn Guan- The Star (Winner)
2) Azhar Mahfof- The Star
3) Chuah Khye Kok- Oriental Daily News

NPC - Celcom Young Journalist Of The Year Award

Nominees:

1) Aisyah Sulaiman – New Straits Times
2) Alyaa Abdul Aziz Alhadjri – The Sun (Winner)
3) Stephanie Augustin- Malaysia SME

NPC Social Media Personality Award

Nominees:

1) Dave Avran (Winner)
2) Fauziah Ismail
3) Chok Suat Ling
The winner of each category will be announced at the gala. Winners will receive RM5,000 and a plaque.
The judging panel, which also comprises writer and citizen journalist Datin Halimah Mohd Said, editorial consultant Puan Aishah Ali, author, blogger and founder of zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd Encik Anas Zubedy, NPC Awards organising chairman, Dato Ahirudin Attan and President of the National Press Club Encik Mokhtar Hussain, also selected the winners for the following categories:

NPC – TNB Broadcast Journalist Award

Nominees:

1) Marian Anak Awor- RTM
2) Dato’ Karam Singh Walia- TV3
3) Selina Kong- NTV7 (Winner)

NPC Best Reporter (English Medium)

Nominees:

1) Audrey Edwards- The Star (Winner)
2) M Hamzah Jamaluddin- New Straits Times
3) Elan Perumal & Stuart Michael- The Star

NPC Best Reporter (Malay Medium)

Nominees:

1) Wan Norhayati Wan Alias- Utusan Malaysia (Winner)
2) Syed Azwan Syed Ali- Berita Harian
3) Sophia Ahmad- Berita Harian

NPC Best Reporter (Chinese Medium)

Nominees:

1) Tay Tian Yian- Sin Chew Jit Poh (Winner)
2) Lum Chih Feng- Oriental Daily News
3) Pua Yew Boon- China Press

NPC Best Reporter (Indian Medium)

Nominees:

1) Vivekanandan- Nam Naadu (Winner)
2) Sathyaseelan- Malaysia Nanban
3) Tho Puvaneswari- Makkal Ossai

NPC Best Reporter (Sabah): Mary Chin (Daily Express)

 

NPC Best Reporter (Sarawak): Stephen Tan (The Star)

NPC - DRB Hicom Best Media Organisation (Community Service) 

Nominees:

1)The Star
2)New Straits Times
3) The Malay Mail
4) Nanyang Siang Pau
5) Astro Radio
6) TV3
7) Berita Harian
Each winner will receive RM10,000 and a plaque.(All nominated Winners)

NPC- Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin 1Malaysian Of The Year Award: Pandelela Rinong Pamg

NPC – Scomi Journalist Of The Year 

Nominees:

1) Farrah Naz Karim- New Straits Times
2) Norfatimah Ahmad and Nazura Ngah- Berita Harian
3) Frankie D'Cruz- The Malay Mail (Winner)
The winner will receive RM15,000, a Malaysian Airlines flight ticket and a plaque.


CONGRATULATIONS ALL!

Sports icon Hamzah passes away

FORMER AFC and OCM president Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, 88, passed away at 3.30pm today.

Hamzah also held the Sports Minister’s portfolio during an illustrious career that led him to the hallowed hallways of FIFA and IOC.

Born in Pekan on Jan 5, 1924, Hamzah studied at MCKK before completing his studies at London’s Gray’s Inn (1953).  In 1967, he entered the world of politics. He was elected MP for Raub and was subsequently appointed Deputy Home Minister (1967-1969).

His star shone brightly and he went on to assume various positions in the Cabinet until he decided to call it a day in 1980.

He was Minister of Information (1969-71), Minister of Culture Youth and Sports (1971-73), Minister of Defence (1973-74), Minister of Commerce and Industry (1974-78) and finally Minister of Law (Menteri Undang2 dan Peguam Negara) (1978-80).

During his stint as Sports Minister, Malaysia qualified for the Olympics football competition for the very first time. It was a historic moment for Malaysia which is still talked about to this day.

The 1972 Munich Games was the only time Malaysia actually played in the Olympics.  Although we qualified for the 1980 Moscow Games, Malaysia joined the US-led boycott and missed the Games.

Hamzah’s stint as Sports Minister certainly created a huge impact on him as he later continued to serve sports in various capacities and different organisations. He was OCM president from 1976 and was an IOC member from 1978. He was a senior vice-president in the Olympic Council of Asia in 1982 and was also the president of the SEA Games Federation in 1977. He was also the FA of Malaysia president from 1984 to 1988.

Hamzah will probably best be remembered by the Asian football fraternity for his tenure as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president from 1978 to 1994. He was FIFA vice-president from 1982 to 1990. He was involved in several World Cup committees, including in 1978, 1982 and 1986.

On the local front, apart from his posts in FAM and OCM, Hamzah was also president of the Malaysian Cricket Association and the Malaysian Taekwando Association. He was also the vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation and played a part in bring the Games to Malaysia in 1998.

Through his passion, dedication and untiring efforts in world sports, Hamzah brought honour and glory to the country. His dynamic leadership in many ways helped pave the way for other Malaysian officials to get involved in world sports.


Article from:

RIP Datuk Punch Gunalan

Datuk Punch Gunalan passed away this morning. He was 68 years-old.
Deepest condolences to his family and may he Rest in Peace.
You will always be remembered Datuk as person who gave everything to the game of badminton and did the nation proud time and again.
Datuk Punch was inducted to the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame in 2004.
Achievements
1969 - Champion, U.S. Open for Men’s Double title
1970 - His first contribution in Thomas Cup
1970 - 1972 - Champion, Danish Open for Men’s Double title
1971 - Champion, U.S. Open for Men’s Double title
1971 - Champion, All England for Men’s Double title
1971 - Champion, Canadian Open for Men’s double title
2005 - Became Deputy President of the International Badminton Federation

Datuk Punch Gunalan (April 2, 1944 – August 14, 2012) was a former badminton star of Malaysia and one of the finest combination doubles and singles players that the country has ever produced. He was born in Sepang, Selangor.
He was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England. Gunalan did not represent Malaysia in Thomas Cup (the men's world team championship) until the 1970 series in Kuala Lumpur at the comparatively late "rookie" age of 26. Here Malaysia relinquished its title to Indonesia in the final, 2--7, with Gunalan and Ng Boon Bee in doubles gaining one of the two points. In 1971 Gunalan and Boon Bee were the leading men's doubles team in the world, winning the prestigious All England title, as well as the Danish, Canadian, and U.S. Open titles.
Though perhaps less consistent in singles than he was in doubles, Gunalan was capable of playing it at the highest level. He reached the All-England singles final in 1974, losing in three close games to the iconic Rudy Hartono. He won singles at the quadrennial Asian Games in 1970 and at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games in 1974.
Since retiring as a player after 1974, Gunalan has served in various stints as coach of the Malaysian team, an official in the Malaysian Badminton Association, and as an official in the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation).

Source: Wikipedia.

The 2012 London Olympics story

I had refrained from making comments or posting anything on my blog on the London 2012 Olympics after my last posting on June 18 with the heading Old story, new cover (read here:http://level-field.blogspot.com/2012/06/old-story-new-cover.html)
I had said all that I had to say and just wanted to see the drama, excitement, joy and tears unfold in London.
The Games itself was indeed a success as far as the host was concerned and there is no doubts about it was - from the opening ceremony, the Games itself, the true host London was to the world, to the Closing Ceremony. It was a delight watching all the action in the wee hours of the morning here in Malaysia and thanks to Astro for bringing all the action live.
As for our Malaysian athletes, there has been a great deal already said from the journalists, commentators, officials at the Games from the Sports Minister, Chef-de-Mission, team managers, coaches, NSC and NSI officials, the athletes themselves, fans, politicians and just about every Ali, Ah Chai, Alagapa, Aisah, Ah Moi and Angamah.
Some made sense, but a great deal were said with emotions playing a big part. Some said things to hide behind the real truth or hide the real disappointment.
A lot was also said before the Malaysian contingent left for London and more often than not rosy pictures were painted. Everything was sugar coated and few wanted to tell the truth and reality that was going to happen in London. Many were hoping that everything will go well and a magic wand would be waved and everything will fall into place.
I had said a few things before the start of the Games and among them include:

Just look at the development leading up to the London Olympics and you will know what I mean.

From an athlete wanting her husband to be beside her instead of her coach, a prominent Media personnel coming out to say they are going to set up a fund for the athlete's husband to travel to London and no less than his honorable PM himself pledging to assist the athlete.

What are taking about here, Is it compassionate feelings or seriously about winning a medal at the Olympics. Let us get our act right. This would not have happened in China, Korea or Japan!

Many may say that I am sounding cruel, but in Malaysian sport one has to be cruel to be kind, because our Malaysian sportsmen and women are a pampered lot.

Just ask a Korean national athlete, no matter what sport, what does it to take to be one and maintain his or her place!

With the all facilities and money readily available in our country, we are still trying to win our first gold medal at the Olympics? We are even dangling millions of ringgit to win the gold medal. Will it happen? I do not know. But I will bank on the poor cousins of some sports who get abundance of funding, in saying that I will not be surprised if we get our elusive gold from the divers or archers

After reading and listening to all the comments on Malaysia's performance, I have come to one conclusion: That what we have is a young generation who have not experienced the golden era of Malaysian sport and whatever result achieved now, is good enough for them because it is all new experience for them. They are excited and feel that Malaysia has done well.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei defending his silver medal he won four years ago was good enough. That matching the Atlanta Games one silver and one bronze is good enough.

I am not taking anything away from Lee Chong Wei. He indeed did well coming back from an ankle injury, gave all his best and was just two points away from the gold medal, he was in tears when receiving the silver medal. But at the end of the day, he did not have what it takes to win the match and the gold. He ran out of luck and he was unlucky to have been born in the same era as Lin Dan, does not stand. Lee did well to get the silver and was not good enough to win the gold medal on that day...period. And let us move on.

For me, the Malaysian success of the Games was Pandelela Rinong and her bronze medal in the diving 10m platform. For starters, it was a medal from other than badminton. It was the first medal won by a woman (not demonstration sport) and by a 19-year old.
Athletes like archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad was a fresh breath to the Malaysian sporty scene and who has given some hope for the future.

Azizulhasni Awang did well to reach the final and is another athlete who left a little good feeling.
But overall, Malaysian sport has a long way to go.
Lee Chong Wei apologising to the fans for his failure was magnanimous. But at the same time we have athletes like Norasela Khalid and Lee Hup Wei who went to London on wild card tickets, who were arrogant and saw no need to apologise for their poor performance and had a whole lot of excuses of how they were not prepared for the challenge because injuries and that they were there because they association selected them.
Would it not been more beneficial to send our top young athletes who could have used the experience to set a dream to return as bona fide qualified Olympian!
And to say that RM20 million was not suffice and we would do better with more funding certainly does not hold water. The question is whether the one silver and one bronze medal won is worth the RM20 million spent or were we short changed!
There are a lot which could have been done better from training, coaches, amount of money spend on certain sports, lavish spending on areas totally unrelated to development of sports, identifying the right sports as medal prospects, cutting all the frills and promotions and above all, getting rid of the politics and poor administration in some sports. Many took a ride on the London Olympics campaign.
Finally, how many Malaysian athletes have what it takes to make all the sacrifices and hard training to get a shot at a medal at the Olympics.
Like it or not, Malaysian athletes are a pampered lot, who are not prepared to make enough sacrifices and above all have what it takes to be an Olympic champion except for a few like Chong Wei and the likes of Nicol David (if squash was in the Olympics).
Let us not give the nation false hopes, but tell the truth and work towards realistic goals and targets.
Above all, let us all get our act right and be sincere in whatever we do - be it officials, coaches, administrators or athletes.
For now, let us identify more athletes in the calibre of Pandelela and work towards a longtime goal. Nothing comes instantly and above all without working at it.
There is still hope for Malaysia to win the elusive first gold medal, but let us all be on the right track and head towards the right destination.
Will Malaysia win the gold medal in Rio in 2016? We have been asking the same question after every Olympics and say that we will. But we have not yet achieved. Is four years enough to produce an Olympics gold medalist? Do we have athletes who are capable of achieving the feat. Let us not forget that the other nations will also be doubling their effort and the competition is only going to get stiffer with each passing Games.
For the sake of Malaysian sports, I hope that the golden ray will shine upon Malaysia in Rio!