UNSPORTING OFFICIALS KILLING MALAYSIAN SPORTS

Column

By Tony Mariadass

 Unsporting attitude killing Malaysian sports

What kind of message are sports officials sending to the athletes with all the squabbles, mudslinging, heavy politics, jealousy, back stabbing, greediness, corrupt practices, selfishness and above all, no fair play at all?

It is little wonder that Malaysian sports is the loser and suffering.

Currently four sports associations have battles going om within, namely Kuala Lumpur FA (KLFA), Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF), Malaysian Paralympics Council and Malaysia Ice Hockey Federation (MIHF).

Two other associations – Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) – who had their elections last weekend, were not short of controversies and drama.

Sports is the simplest thing in life and it is supposed to  be fun and pure.
However in recent times, sports has become so complicated, that it is now equated with politics.

The age old argument of whether the officials are there because of the sport and athletes or the sport and athletes are there because of officials, still continues.

But the fact of the matter is that officials exist to serve the sports and athletes.

However, this is more often neglected as sports officials use the sport to hold office for their own personal again and agenda.

And is sad that some officials who hold posts in associations sometimes do not have a clue of the sports they are involved in but are elected because of status and promises to bring in financial aid.

Some officials are used as pawns for others in the sports.

But that many sports officials hold posts in several post ranging from club, state, national, government agencies and international level, is alarming.

How they find the time and be dedicated to the sports they are involved in, is indeed a puzzle.

These officials are often seen shuttling from one sports to another and travelling most of the time.

It is no secret that sport is the best platform for one to expose and publicise one self.

But in the end they run into controversies and give the sport a bad name.

And who is to be blamed?  The blame should solely rest on the affiliates who elect these officials into power.

Whether it is poor judgement, influenced by parties, personal gain and agendas, these affiliates have to take the blame.

To make matters, there has been instances where members of the media are roped into to carry out campaigns and agendas of those seeking elections.

Government interference is another area which needs to be addressed as it is treading in dangerous waters.

According to the Olympic Charter, every National Olympic Committee (NOC) must be free from government interference. A survey from Play the Game shows that at least one in seven NOCs have leaders with formal ties to their national governments.

(Play the Game is an initiative run by the Danish Institute for Sport Studies, aiming at raising the ethical standards of sport and promoting democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in world sport. While the Olympic Charter does not prohibit NOCs to elect government representatives as members, the charter states that the NOCs must resist external political and economic pressures.)

Thus, it is about time that the Sports Act and Sports Commissioner’s office has more stringent rules like minimising the number of associations or even allowing only one where officials can hold posts, maximum number of terms officials can hold office or maximum age eligibility and stringent checks on background of officials standing for elections be conducted and given the go ahead to contest.

For starters, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) – the highest sport’s governing body in the country – should look at themselves and set the example.

At least half the OCM executive boards members besides holding chairmanship or members of specific committees’ in OCM, hold state, national or international posts.

OCM as the sports supremo of Malaysian sports, if their elected members continue to hold posts in other associations, it tantamount to conflict of interest.

Besides, can these members justify that they have the time to give their undivided attention to the other posts they hold. Some even have fulltime jobs to attend to.

The legendary South African activist and politician, Nelson Mandela, said: “Sports can be a diversion. Sports can be a hobby. And, for a fortunate few, sports can change the world.”

Wonder how many of our Malaysian sports officials are in the sports to make a change for the better.

In its amateur state, sport is pure and honest, but when it becomes professional, bringing in big bucks through sponsorship, it can become a monster.

As more money pours into sports, greed sets in and true sportsmanship goes out the window.

When officials see the kind of money and power available in sports and the perks associated with rich associations, the desire to be a part and parcel of the sports fraternity at all cost increases tremendously. 

If the current trend in Malaysian sports to have an array of positions is not checked, sports and the athletes will be the biggest losers.