Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, the new
Youth and Sports minister has scored full marks in his first week in office.
The 37-year-old Khairy has said all
the right things, addressed situations the right way and is definitely a fresh
breath for sports in the country.
Today as the new Youth and Sports Minister, he tasted his first winning
outting in Malaysian sports against an Asia Pacific field at the 30th
Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship at the KLGGC, when Kelly Tan won the
title warding off a strong challenge from Filipinas, Princess Superal and Cyna
Rodrique who finished joint second.
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| Khairy after presenting the trophy to team champions, Philippines |
“It is good to taste some success
today, after some difficult beginning in office where I had to deal with the
badminton’s failure in the Sudirman Cup and the bribery allegations in soccer,”
said Khairy at the Press Conference at KLGGC.
“In fact, I was joking with some of
my staff that it is not a good time for me to become a Sports Minister when we
have an ageing Nicol David and Lee Chong Wei and no new talents rising to give
any indications that they can step into the shoes of these two.”
However, Khairy was quick to add that
he is up for the challenge and believes there are many young athletes in many
sports waiting to move up in ranks.
Khairy said that it is good that the
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has taken responsibility and promised
to makes changes which include a change of guard.
“I am glad that the BAM have
responded positively after my meeting with them because the association has to
take the necessary steps. I cannot be making decisions for them.
“We need more associations to be
accountable and look into ways to move forward with a new breed officials and athletes
if necessary.”
Khairy said that the National Sports
Council has a good development programme and he will be speaking to Datuk Seri
Zolkples Embong, the director-general, to see how things can progress from
here.
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| Press Conference (from left to right) NSC Director-general, Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong,Youth and Spors Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin, HH Tunku Puteri, Tunku Puan Sri Dato' Jawahir (Malga President) and Dato Rabeahtul Aloha Abbas (Malga Executive-Director) |
It is without doubt that Khairy will
take the path to engage all parties in sports and chose the correct path
together to see sports in Malaysia move up to a higher level generally.
It is easier said than done, but all
associations must take the cue from Khairy to be proactive, innovative, productive
and accountable.
What we do not need is associations who
look at the Sports Ministry and NSC as their cash cow, but instead start
working on their own to manage their associations and their athletes well and
above all act professionally.
On speculations that badminton players
were keeping late nights and gambling, Khairy said that the association cannot
pass the buck to the players.
“These players are young. They need
to be guided. If they are still indiscipline, then associations have to take
the harsh decision to drop them and bring in the players who are knocking on
the doors.
“It is no use relying on the same
players and each time there is a failure, blaming the players. As experienced
and elder officials, they should have guided those players better and replace
them if necessary and not condone them and then blame then when things do not
go right.”
Khairy certainly did not mince his
words and it was wise words for the sports fraternity.
Here is one minister who is young,
has bright ideas, engages people for ideas and results, and takes the bull by
the horns.
It is only hoped that he continues
and end his tenure at the Youth and Sports minister just the way he has
started.
He does not need people hanging around
him with ideas to benefit themselves or people trying to impress him with
ulterior motives.
Khairy should stand on his own and
only engage the sports associations themselves to make the difference and move
forward towards excellence.
There is too much negativity in the
sports arena in Malaysia, and we need some positive charge – Khairy is here to give that positive charge
and let us use it in the direction to make Malaysian sports something to be
proud again.
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| Khairy with HRH Tunku Ampuan Negri Sembilan , Tuanku Najihah (Royal Patron of the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association) and HH Tunku Puetri Tunku Puan Sri Dato' Seri Jawahir (Malga President) |
