Attapka fast becoming a ‘Foodie Bikers’ Haven

 

By Tony Mariadass

‘Foodie Bikers’ Haven

BANTING: ‘Attapka Seafood Restaurant’ owned by former international footballer from Kuala Lumpur, See Kim Seng, has seen a new group of clients of late – Bikers – and it fast growing in numbers.

After experiencing  bad times during this Covid-19 pandemic since last year when Movement Control Order (MCO) saw his restaurant bring down its curtains, and later only able to receive ‘take away’ orders, Kim Seng sighed relived when first dine-in was allowed and inter-district allowed recently, and now inter-state travel too allowed.

“My customers used to be locals, friends and sometime outstation clients,” said the 57-year-old father of five daughters.

“But of late, when inter-district travel was allowed, I was pleasantly surprised to get group of bikers coming to my restaurant.

“It was by word of mouth that these bikers who add food outlets to their bike riding expeditions, that saw these groups patronise my outlet.

"And now not a weekend or public holiday passes by with a least one or two bikers groups coming to my restaurant to feast.

“Their presence certainly adds colour to my outlet and a delight to my other customers to view these big bikes up close and personal.

“And with the bikers themselves pleased with the food we serve here and passing the word to their other biker friends, I am getting more biker groups coming to my outlet.”

Kim Seng said one bikers group in particular led by Danny Zuko has been promoting his outlet to other biker groups.

 Kim Seng, is proof that there is life after football, if one plans well, works hard, willing to face challenges, be prudent and keep one’s feet firm on the ground always.

The burly Kim Seng who grew up at Kampong Kelanang, Banting, has come a long way to establish himself as a successful businessman, since he last played for Negri Sembilan in 1994.

He has managed a heavy machinery business successfully from 1995 to 2013, before recession saw him fold the business, then set up his own heavy machinery company for a few years, and after his last job during the building of KLIA 2, decided to go into managing a golf driving range at the Desa Driving Range at Shah Alam – his second, after the first in Bandar Baru Kelang in 2015, where his contract of the range was not renewed after three years - and now runs a seafood restaurant – Attapka – since February last year.

Kim Seng who took up golfing after football and was a single handicapper, also runs a coaching clinic for children at his range, but now has asked his friend to run it, because he must concentrate on his seafood restaurant.

“I come from a family of seven and was the fifth. As a 12-year-old I used to follow my late father (See Thiam Sem) who ran a fruit shop, to buy coconuts and fruits, from plantations by bicycle first, before he got a motorcycle.

“Coming from a small town and kampong, I knew what hardship was all about and was always prudent and saved whatever I could for a rainy day.

“It is not how much you earn, but how much you can safe. A father can give his son 1 million ringgit, but it will all come to naught if the son does not know how to utilise the money well.”

Kim Seng started playing football as a striker, as a kampong boy with estate players near his home.

Chinese educated at his primary school SRJK Simpan Morib and later at SM Sg Manggis till Form Three and in SMK Telok Datuk, he first played for his school teams, before turning out for the Kuala Langat District team in the Selangor premier league.

It was with the district team that Kim Seng was spotted by the late international midfield maestro Wong Choon Wah, was who playing for Selangor Chinese Recreation Club (SCRC), when playing in the league match in Banting.

Kim Seng went on to play for Selangor schools in the Rahman Cup and Razak Cup and donned national colours in the Asean Schools football championship for two years – 1981 in Jakarta and 1982 in Bangkok where he captained the team.

It was in 1984, that he was selected to the Selangor team and with a star-studded team with the likes of the late Mokhtar Dahari, K. Rajagobal, Norbit Shah and other notable names, he warmed the bench and only played one match against Armed Forces.

Next year, frustrated, he returned to just play in the Selangor league for SCRC. It was here that late Chow Kwai Lam spotted him and took him to play for Kuala Lumpur in late 1986.

 

See  Kim Seng (right) in KL colours in defence with teammate Chow Siew Yai

It was Dr Josef Veglos who took charge of the KL team in 1987, that converted Kim Seng from a striker to a defender. He played for KL till 1992 (wining the Malaysia Cup for a record three times – 1987-1989), before moving to Negri Sembilan for two years before he called it quits.

Kim Seng standing back row far right with KL Malaysia Cup team with their trophies  1988 treble champions Malaysia Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield

As a national player he has a winner’s medal from the 1989 Sea Games under English coach Trevor Hartley and a 1993 Merdeka tournament medal under Australian coach late Ken Worden who passed away recently, besides playing in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers and King’s Cup in Thailand where he captained the team.

“I am also glad that besides having done well in business, I have also educated my children well and also got them involved in sports,” said Kim Seng proudly, whose wife, Wong Show Mei was a Tanggak district volleyball player.

Kim Seng with standing from left  daughters See Min, See Mon, See Man and See Won  and seated from left wife Doris Wong Show Mei and youngest daughter See Wye

While Kim Seng admitted that he spends most of his time now at his seafood restaurant, starting as early as 7am to buy the seafood from the fishing village and open his shop from 11am to midnight.

His wife now manages the driving range besides her own business of cleaning services.

While Kim Seng does not do the cooking and has hired experienced cooks, he is still busy at the restaurant taking orders, managing the cash register and making sure the food is served fast besides being the public relation man talking to his customers.

 

Kim Seng taking order at his restaurant

Kim Seng keeps his prices very affordable because most of his customers are from Banting and not all of them are doing well.

He also sponsors one or two tables each other for poor families around the area working with the Community Service centres.

And despite his newfound clientele of bikers and more coming from outside Banting, Kim Seng keeps his price very affordable to all, not compromising on his portions or standards which he works hard to keep on improving.

Among his specialities and favourites among his customers are Pari Fish Curry, Fried sotong, Dried chilli chicken and Chilli Crab. He also has any array of other delicious dishes and also serves 'toddy' in one litre bottles sourced from the nearby coconut plantations.

Indeed a place worth the visit which is about one hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and if you avoid the highway passing through Klang, the drive through the kampung passing through Dengkil is a sight to behold.

Check out Attapka Seafood Restaurant. No regets, only joy and a full stomach.

 

Nestled in a shed of trees, the hut-styled seating for privacy or for bigger groups at the main restaurant, it is Located at Lot 325, Jalan Pulau Banting, 42700, Banting, and open from 11.30am to 11.00pm.

 

MALAYSIAN SPORTS AT ITS PITS?

 

MALAYSIAN SPORTS CREDIBILITY AT STAKE 

By Tony Mariadass

Little surprise that Malaysian sports is scraping the barrel and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for a ray of hope for progress.

When we want to reward non-results, rectify results at all cost, blame everyone else but not look at one’s own fault, no respect for rules, lack the discipline as an athlete, sports leaders and officials fighting for a lost cause just to get brownie points or popular votes, let emotions take over righteous, treat defaulters like heroes and the list goes on, what hope is there for sports to remain pure and honourable.

Then we have officials who were alleged to have attempted to bribe opposing athletes to lose to Malaysian athletes and officials who were said to have bribed competition officials at championships, especially in subjective sports, to favour or give better points for Malaysian athletes.

With these underhand tactics by sports officials, how can we motivate or tell our athletes to give their best to win medals?

Without doubt Malaysian athletes are well rewarded for achievements at different level of competitions. They have the best facilities and privileges accorded to them as compared to many countries.

Even countries like Australia do not reward their athletes like Malaysia does. In many countries, athletes must source for their own funds to pay for their passage for competitions.

Thus, in general Malaysian athletes are well looked after and when one fails and still can hope to be rewarded, do we expect our athletes to give their blood, tears and sweat when competing to bring honours.

Yes, we have rare cases of our athletes who have brought honours from the most difficult circumstances, but generally Malaysian athletes are a pampered lot.

Many do not know what sacrifice is. Many do not know what it is to be poor. Many do not know what it is to be hungry.

Today sacrifice means being away from their family for a year – and that too because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

But they train in the best environment, with the best facilities, food, medical care, and coaches.

We even have news about athletes who have been hauled up for doping (knowingly or not) and that further degrades sports in Malaysia.

Ask the Indian, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese athletes what is sacrifice, how to make the cut as a national athlete or what they must endure as a national athlete and to be the best? Their stories can be horrifying but those are the kind of sacrifices a champion must make.

What our Malaysian athletes undergo in preparation is not even 40 percent of the above athletes must endure.

When we talk of Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen of yesteryear and what they had to undergo and what they had achieved, many will scoff it off as “that is those days.”

So why is it with all the facilities, resources, money and comfort, the present-day athletes cannot produce outstanding results or even better the yesteryear achievements.

And those who do produce results are the few, who had made sacrifices like pulling out from the comfort of their homes and country, base themselves overseas and train in an environment where no favours are granted and only hard work, sacrifices, dedication, determination, discipline and personal desire and goals to be the best, sees them successful.

While we take a dig at our athletes, our officials too must take the blame where we do not have officials who have sports at their heart but their own personal agenda.

We have officials who are in the sports to get their titles, for overseas trips, their political mileage and if they can make some money along the way.

Coaches and technical personnel are overlooked to accompany athletes and officials are sent as favours or to win votes for the next election.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of Malaysian sports.

Many will come forward to testify but they will be blacklisted or marginalised.

But talk to sincere athletes and officials, and their stories will be shocking to Malaysian sports! 

With so many ills in Malaysian sports and when mediocrity and nonperformance is championed to be recognised, can we really hope that Malaysian sports will stand tall, proud and be honoured for an honest effort with dignity?

ALL’S WELL OR ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE

GOLD IN TOKYO WILL ERASE ALL FLAWS?

By Tony Mariadass

If Azizulhasni Awang goes on to win the historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics which ends on Sunday (he has been targeted to win in the keirin), everything will be ‘hunky dory'.

The Tokyo Olympics will be remembered as a success despite the overall ‘lukewarm’ performance.

If he fails, or even get a silver or bronze medal, all hell will break loose, especially in the social media, although all sorts of excuses will be given by the authorities for failing to achieve the one gold medal and medals from badminton, diving, and cycling.

For all the effort and determination of Azizulhasni and his coach Beasley and the money spent on cycling, we hope that he wins the gold medal.

But it is easier said than done and Azizulhasni’s opponents are certainly going to do everything possible to deny the former the honour.

Rest assured the Malaysian camp, especially officials from the Ministry of Sports, National Sports Council (NSC), National Sports Institute (NSI) and association, will be at the velodrome cheering Azizulhasni to win the gold and probably even wearing Azizulhasni for Gold T-shirts, as was the case in Rio five years ago.

Azizulhasni bags the gold, and it will be celebration time and euryopia and rightful so.

But do not forget the overall performance at the Games still needs to be addressed.

As in every other multi-sports Games like the Sea Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics Games, a report will be prepared and will be debated and preparation for the next Games at France in three years’ time will begin.

How many Games have come and gone at all levels, and each time when the next Games come, we are faced with the same problems and issues?

Millions of ringgits are allocated each time, programmes are launched or modified, but in the end nothing substantial is achieved.

Without doubt the last Games in 2016 – Rio Games – bore the best results where Malaysia bagged four silver medals and a bronze medal - in badminton, diving and cycling final – Lee Chong Wei, Goh Liu Ying- Chan Peng Soon and Goh V Chem and Tan Wee Kiong winning silver medals; Pandelela and Jun Hoong silver in diving and Azizulhasni winning bronze in keirin.

Former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin paid tribute to Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek for his initiative in establishing the ‘Road to Rio’ programme when he was the Youth and Sports minister four earlier, which Khairy said led to the success in Rio because of a foundation paid well.

Khairy then went to say that plans start for Tokyo 2020 immediately.

Leading to Tokyo we have had three sports ministers – Khairy, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and current Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Here itself, one would question if there was a smooth plan in place or changes with every minister.

Yes, there is NSC who were supposed to be the guiding force to the Ministers. But was transition each time done professionally or with personal agendas.

And what about the money allocated for the preparation of the Tokyo Games?

Was it well spent for the benefit for the athletes?

In 2018, the then government allocated RM100 million for the country’s preparations for the 2020 Olympics and then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had said when tabling 2019 Budget.

He said the purpose of the allocation was to continue Malaysia’s pursuit of the elusive top prize at the Olympics.

Then in February 2020, under Sports Minister Syed Saddiq, as the hunt for Malaysia’s first ever Olympic gold intensified, the Sports Ministry decided to give an extra “financial push” to the various sports in their last lap of preparations for Tokyo with an allocation of RM22.5 million.

The allocation for the various sports were cycling: RM8.37 million, badminton: RM6.45 million, diving: RM2.32 million, sailing: RM1.96 million, archery: RM940,710, golf: RM738,000, artistic gymnastics: RM644,905, karate: RM588,975, swimming: RM477,000.

Syed Saddiq had said that the RM22.5 million was for use between January and August and added that they got closer to the Games, the athletes may have additional requirements to achieve those marginal gains needed and they will look if it is necessary to allocate more funds then.

So far, we have won just one bronze medal through youngsters, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in men’s badminton doubles – who were not targeted to bag a medal.

The media also had built the hype for Tokyo, playing to the tune of the administrators, and built up the hopes of Malaysians.

But as we fell short with each passing day at the Games, all sorts of excuses were given and the main and ready-made excuse was the Covid-19 pandemic which had hindered their preparation because of lock downs, under able to travel for competitions, competitions cancelled, stress and others.

Malaysia was not the only country in the world affected by the pandemic. It was a level playing field for all countries with the challenges.

The question is how well Malaysia managed the situation and look at alternatives to prepare the athletes to the best.

Could places like Langkawi and Perlis, which were safer places during the pandemic, could have been used as base.

Let us not forget that this time around, preparation period was five years and not four years for Olympics.

NSC and the respective sports associations had the luxury of having the Olympic bound athletes for the longest period without interruptions from domestic and international competitions.

So how well did the planners think out of the box in their preparation plans. How did the rest of the world manage and did well at the Olympics?

I do not blame the athletes, for their prepared to their best with the platform offered to them.

The ones who qualified for the Games should be congratulated. Those who achieved their personal best or national records should be applauded and those who won medals praised for their determination and excellence.

As far as rewards for athletes who won medals, it is all in place through the rewards scheme for Olympic Games where individual gold medal winners will be entitled to RM1 million, silver medal and bronze medal winners will get RM300,000 and RM100,000 respectively. For team sports, the amounts remain the same and will be awarded to the team to be shared.

 

Then there is the SHAKAM (Skim Imbuhan Tetap Olimpik – Permanent Olympic Reward Scheme) programme - where winning athletes will be paid a monthly allowance for a lifetime (pension). Gold medallists will earn a monthly pension of RM5,000, silver medallists RM3,000 and bronze medallists, RM2,000. To date, as many as 13 Olympic athletes have reaped rewards through the SHAKAM programme.

 

Of course, with winning medals comes sponsorships and endorsement deals.

Afterall, Malaysia’s reward scheme for Olympics is among the third highest among top 10 nations.

 

Thus, athletes cannot complain of not being rewarded for their efforts, sacrifices and achievements.

This brings us to questions why Malaysia still has not achieved its true potential in sports.

Here was a few to ponder on for our under achievements:

a)     Politics in sports

b)    Sports officials who are not qualified leading associations

c)     Sports officials overstaying their welcome in associations

d)    Younger and former sportsmen and women, kept out of sports associations their excel in

e)     National sport associations (NSAs) selling their soul to NSC when they should be playing the main role in promoting and developing their respective sports.

f)      NSAs are totally responsible for the development of their respective sports and should engage their former athletes.

g)     Talent scouting must be a permanent feature in every NSAs and executed widely to identity new talent and groom them. (currently talent scouting is virtually nonexistence)

h)    There must be a large pool of talent available for all sports who can step into the shoes of those who are aging or failed to live up to their potential.

i)       NSC and NSAs should stop depending on athletes who do well for forever by flocking them till they get injured and get old.

j)       Younger and potential athletes should be given adequate training, exposure, and support.

k)     Sports in Malaysia should be blind to colour, creed, and race. Let the best be allowed to represent the nation. Everyone should be treated fairly and with no favouritism.

l)       Coaches should be given full responsibility for their athletes and teams.

 m) Coaches should be the ones given priority to accompany their athletes for competitions and NOT administrative officials or officials who are close to the higher ups in their respective associations.

n)    NSC not giving the recognition to NSAs and taking control of them

o)    NSC handling training and management of athletes when NSAs are the authorities in their respective sports

p)    NSC should serve as the one-stop centre for dispersing money allocated to NSAs by the Sports Ministry and not take charge of NSAs and when failure occurs blame the NSAs and when seek glory when achievements are derived.

q)    NSI to play a more supporting role for all and not selected sports or a few athletes. Every NSA should have access to NSI’s facilities and their assistance and guidance.

r0 Athletes too have to have the desire to excel and use the opportunity for themselves to elevate their life. Most of our athletes are comfortable and lack the hunger. Probably athletes from difficult backgrounds who will do better for Malaysia. We need to find these athletes from the poverty sector or difficult living backgrounds and give them the platform to rise out of their predicament

I could go on to list a few more, but I will stop because even to rectify the above is going to be a dream which may never be realised.

Without doubt, post mortems and reports are going to be made on the Tokyo Olympics with recommendations, but as usual it is going to be a futile exercise, as it is going to end in the cupboards in the storeroom collecting dust.

Just pick anyone of the many previous reports, and the answers to Malaysia becoming a powerhouse will be staring at your face.

Will anyone pick it up and implement it? Your guess and answer are as good as mine!

I have been in think tank and review groups but have never seen the end report surface or being utilised.

At this point, I believe officials who had played a role in the decline of Malaysian sports, should gracefully step down and allow fresh faces to come on aboard and try something new and different.

Will it happen?

ICONIC FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIAL, VINCENT PASSES AWAY AT 90

VINCENT A TRUE LOVER OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME OF FOOTBALL

 By Tony Mariadass

MJ Vincent, who celebrated his 90^th birthday on January 22, an iconic name in football development in the nation, passed away this afternoon (July 13).

Vincent who started his football love with Selangor, where he played the game, was an official with the FA of Selangor, team manager of the Selangor Burnley Cup team (now Razak Cup) and referee, was among the founder members of Federal Territory Football Association (now Kuala Lumpur FA) in 1974 with others like Datuk K. Rasalingam, Datuk Goh Ah Chai, Hamzah Muhamad, Shariff Mustafa, Jeswant Singh and T. Manickarajah.

I have known Vincent from the time I started writing in 1977 and my first trip to London was with him, when I was invited by the KLFA President, late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, to join and report to the KL 1974 victorious Razak Cup team during their one-week training stint in Birmingham City, under coach Patrick Wright.

I last spoke to him on his 90^th birthday and even sent a video message which his daughter Jenny, had prepared for her dad and had requested me to say a few words.

Vincent watching the video message I sent to him on his 90th birthday of Jan 22

Indeed, a gentleman to the core and was involved in the game till extremely late in his age – actively being involved with the Ex-Internationals Association.

Few may now this, but Vincent has been credited for giving the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari his career path in the game.

Much is said about the late Mokhtar Dahari and that no player like him has come through since.

But do the very people who talk about ‘Super Mokh’ know that he was not discovered by design but by chance — because of a club coach who felt Mokhtar had the talent and recommended him?

In my interview with Vincent seven  years ago for the New Straits Times, the Selangor team manager of the Burnley Cup (now Razak Cup) team, said Mokhtar was introduced by a coach of a club team by the name of Wan.

“Wan told me there was this player whom he thought was an excellent player.

“I told him to bring him for trials and the rest is history,” said the then 83-year-old Vincent.

“Without doubt, if not for this coach, Mokhtar would have been discovered later or never. This coach, who acted as a talent scout indeed played a key role,” added Vincent when talking about talent scouting in the interview.

Mokhtar himself in an exclusive interview to Suresh Kumar and Shanmuganathan for the Seladang magazine (Victoria Institution school magazine) in 1982, had acknowledged Vincent, when he asked if he was, he was popular in school:

“No, no not exactly. Well, that came only after I left school. It was during a trial to play with the Selangor Junior Squad at the Piala Razak tournament. Later, my manager, Mr M J Vincent, recommended that I join the senior squad and from then everything started coming my way.”

MJ Vincent the team manager being hoisted by Selangor team members after their Burnley Cup victory in 1974

There were many other youngsters whom Vincent had put them on their football path and among them was Datuk Yap Nyim Keong, the former FA of Malaysia general-secretary and current secretary of Mini Football Malaysia (MiFoM).

This is what Yap had to say:

“He was also my manager when I captained the victorious Selangor Burnley Cup team in 1970. He was the one who approached me to come for training with the Selangor team. I was disillusioned because I was dropped in the last minute from the team the year before. An older player was preferred on top of me, although I was in the starting 11 in all the friendly matches. My name was also in the souvenir programme.

He assured me then that this time was different and made me the captain despite the presence of other senior players who represented Malaysia in the Asian Youth competition. We remained good friends throughout and I have great respect for Mr Vincent, the gentleman. It is incredibly sad that I did not get to meet him because of the pandemic. May his Soul RIP.

Another player from Kuala Lumpur. T. Gopinath Naidu had this to say:

“Good man and manager. Sad to see him go. Thanks for everything sir. My manager for many youth tournaments from 1988-1992. We love you sir.”

Vincent second from right with the KL youth team

Probably his daughter Jenny best sums up Vincent’s life when she wrote this message for her dad on his 90^th birthday:

“Dearest Dad. I have so many things to say to you as you turn 90 today. You have been such an inspiration to many young and old. You have been a father figure to many young football players, inspiring them to be their best. You have brought your football managerial ways to our round-table family meetings too. Football runs through your veins and the passion you have for it has kept you going all this time. A heart attack in Bangkok while refereeing a game in 1969 did not set you back but you continued with football. 

Mum always and still complains that you were never home while we were growing up, but you know what, I get it now! When you have that passion, it truly drives you. I recall going to many football matches with you. From Merdeka Tournaments to Malaysia Cup matches. You have been on the team organising the Merdeka football tournaments when teams stayed at the Federal Hotel. 

MJ Vincent standing fourth from left with the FA of Selangor Council members with the Malaysia Cup

The football life continued even after your retirement from the government service. Going to the Kuala Lumpur Football Association was a thrill for me when you worked there. Being a football player from a young age you have kept up with staying fit. I remember those days when I waited in the car for you as you did the long Taichi sessions at the Selangor Chinese Recreation Club. After moving to Taman Desa, both mum and you have always kept fit by walking to the nearby park. Pottering in the garden being a favourite past time for many years. Even a bypass in 1997 never stopped you from being involved in the Ex-International Malaysian Football Association together with Uncle Clement Soosay.

MJ Vincent standing far left with ex-internationals including the likes of late Mokhtar Dahari in an undated photograph

Through all of this you lead a very colourful life with many loved ones who bring so much joy to you. Happy 90th birthday D, may God Almighty continue to bless you in abundance and I thank the Lord for every day that I can be with you. 

Dad @ M.J. Vincent you are a legend, a treasure to the football growth in Malaysia, so special to all your family and friends. Loving you always, Jenny.”

 

REST IN PEACE VINCENT. MAY THE LORD GRANT YOU ETERNAL REST.

YOU MAY BE GONE, BUT FOND MEMORIES AND YOUR WORK FOR FOOTBALL WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED.