On the go… Russel Taib is relieved the problem of delayed payment has
ended.
PETALING
JAYA: The Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) has paid the RM20,000 owed to
Brisbane-based national 200m sprinter Russel Taib for training expenses.
MAF
deputy president Mumtaz Jaafar said the money was released after Russel
submitted the relevant documents and his training expenditure. She said MAF was
in the process of making payments to several athletes whose record-breaking
rewards were in arrears.
Russel
said he was glad the 15-month controversy over the payment has ended, and
thanked FMT for helping to resolve the delayed payment that was first
highlighted on June 23.
Team
Russel Taib adviser Russell Thompson said they hoped for improved relations
with MAF going forward.
The
issue arose when Russel was only paid RM1,000 after breaking the national 200m
record although he received a mock cheque for RM21,000 from then MAF president
Karim Ibrahim at an official dinner in March last year.
Russel with Mumtaz Jaafar last year at a dinner where he was presented with a mock cheque for RM20,000.
The
money was part of US$25,000 allocated by the International Association of
Athletics Federations for athletics development.
Russel
spent more than RM100,000 since he began training for Malaysia in 2015, first
in Tasmania and now in Brisbane.
He
broke the 200m record at the Queensland Track Classic in Brisbane last year
when he clocked 20.77 to erase Khairul Jantan’s mark of 20.90s set at the 2017
Malaysian Open.
Russel,
22, has also been recruited by the National Sports Council for the 2020 Podium
Programme, for which he will receive RM2,000 in a monthly allowance until the
year-end.
BLOG VERSION
Russel’s RM20,000 owing payment finally paid up
Tony Mariadass
MAF banks in payment after 15-month delay for
closure to controversy
Russel receiving the mock cheque for RM21,000 at the MAF dinner. (from) left Asian Athletics Association president Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad of Qatar, Karim Ibrahim, then MAF president and OCM president Mohmad Norza Zakaria.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) has
finally made the RM20,000 to national 200m sprinter Russel Taib for training
expenses in Australia yesterday
The 15-month controversy over payment after a mock cheque of
RM21,000 was presented by former MAF president Karim Ibrahim at an athletics
dinner last March and Russel’s woe was first highlighted by FMT on June 23.
RM1,000 of the RM21,000 to be paid out to Russel, was paid
immediately after the dinner as a reward for his record breaking feat.
Following some heated exchange over the delayed payment between
Karim and present MAF president SM Muthu, the duo met last month on June 25, to
resolve the matter.
It was following the meeting, that MAF decided that they will
make the payment which was part of US$25,000 allocated by the International
Association of Athletics Federations for athletics development.
And yesterday morning, Russel and Team Russel Taib adviser,
Russell Thompson confirmed receiving the payment.
“Thank FMT for the help given on this delayed payment which has
been settled. I appreciate it,” said Russel in a Whatsapp message from Brisbane
Thompson on the other hand messaged: “This issue is closed now.
Thank FMT for all your help and it was very much appreciated.
“The matter is now closed and we hope to work with MAF better
going forward.”
MAF deputy president, Mumtaz Jaafar said they were glad that the
matter has been settled and looking to moving forward with Russel.
“He has submitted all relevant documents and expenditure
pertaining to his training and everything was in order and we immediately
released the fund,” said Mumtaz when contacted this morning.
“We are happy that we have settled the issue which has been
prolonged since last year.”
Mumtaz also said that MAF are in the final process of making
payment to several athletes whose record breaking rewards was in arrears.
“Everything will be settled soon once we have all documentation
in place,” added Mumtaz.
Russel who broke the 200m record at the Queensland Track Classic
in Brisbane last year when he clocked 20.77 to erase Khairul jantan’s 20.90s
record set at the 2017 Malaysian Open, has also been recruited by the National
Sports Council (NSC) for the 2020 Podium Programme, for which he will be paid
RM2,000 in monthly allowance until year-end.
NSC are in the process of signing the contract for the inclusion
in the programme.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) must stop
groaning over the omission of several gold medal prospect sports by hosts
Vietnam for the 31st Hanoi Sea Games next year.
Every host nation has done the same with the aim of topping the
medals tally.
It is the norm for the hosts to include sports that they have an
advantage over to win medals and eliminate disciplines they are weak in.
Hanoi has adhered to Rule 34 of the Southeast Asian Games
Federation (SEAGF) charter which defines that the Games programme is to be
selected by the host.
When Malaysia hosted the Games in 2017, they did the same by
including sports they had medal winning prospects, staging 404 events in 38
sports much to the frustration of other countries.
Malaysia finished champions with 144 gold, 92 silver and 86
bronze medals.
While the main moan is a surfeit of irrelevant sports, Rule 34
states that a minimum of 22 sports, with events contained therein must be
determined based on the following criteria:
34.1: There shall be no artificial events unless these are in
the Olympic or Asian Games.
34.2: A minimum of four national olympic councils must
participate in a sport/event for it to be included.
34.3: Except for athletics, aquatics, and shooting, other sports
shall not have more than five percent of the total number of events or medal
tally.
34.4: A minimum of 14 sports from Category II (35 events listed
in Olympics and Asian Games) and a maximum of eight sports from Category III
(15 listed events).
It is mandatory that 11 of the total number are Olympic and/or
Asiad sports.
34.6 Each sport must belong to an existing international sports
federation and/or an Asian sports federation.
34.7 The organising committee may hold one demonstration sport.
Hanoi has proposed 36 sports (two compulsory sports, 29 under
category two, and five under category three). Kurash and kickboxing are not in
the SEAGF charter.
At the three-day SEAGF meeting involving the 11 members via
video conferencing on Wednesday, Malaysia proposed the inclusion of 11 more
sports, while the others added another 11.
Malaysia requested for indoor hockey, tenpin bowling, sailing,
cricket, skateboarding, sambo, floorball, netball, lawn bowls, squash, and
rugby sevens.
The others asked for muay, triathlon, taekwondo, traditional
boat race, jiu-jitsu, esports, arnis, obstacle course, kempo, teqball and soft
tennis.
As a decision will be made at the next council meeting in
November, lobbying for support will be intensified as each proposed sport needs
the backing of a minimum of four countries to make the Games.
The Sea Games has no limit to the number of sports to be
contested as this can be decided by the host nation subject to approval by
SEAGF.
When the Philippines hosted the Games last year, they had 56
sports and 530 events – the highest in the Games history – and they emerged
champions with 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals.
The Sea Games, originally known as the SEAP Games with 12 sports
in the first edition in 1959, has gradually lost its glitz and is starting to
look like a carnival.
While there are conflicting views on the issue, it cannot be
denied that the host nation wants to win the most medals any which way.
One way to stop the Games from becoming a bigger joke would be
to turn it into a development platform and stick to Olympics and Asian Games sports.
Malaysia is mulling sending Malaysia Games (Sukma) champions to
Hanoi with a mix of senior campaigners.
The OCM must, however, make a stand whether they are for an
Under-23 Games or if they are still obsessed with gold medals.
Football is already confined to players under 23 years old.
The accelerating costs for the host nation are worrying. For
one, the show of one-upmanship with grand opening and closing ceremonies is a
supposed reflection of economic clout.
The money spent on these silly ceremonies could be used for the
development of sports in the host nation.
Even if it becomes a stage for development, the Sea Games will
continue to benefit athletes and officials who have over the years achieved
loftier targets internationally.
Having been to 16 Sea Games as a journalist and media official
since 1983 in Singapore, I have seen the best and worst of the editions.
While it might have been a great experience, the Games has
overgrown its purpose and importance and a serious review is in order.
There’s a problem though: SEAGF officials tend to indulge in the
practice of “you scratch my back and I scratch yours”, and therein lies the
danger of the Games morphing into a monster circus.
BLOG VERSION
FMT Tony Mariadass Column,
Saturday July 25
THE
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) must stop moaning and groaning over several
medal prospect sports left out by hosts Vietnam for the Hanoi 31st Sea
Games next year as it is the norm that the host nation to include sports they
have an advantage to win medals and eliminate disciplines they are weak in.
Added to
the above, the 31st Sea Games organising committee have adhered to the South
East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) charter and rules under rule 34 under
programme.
When
Malaysia hosted the Games in 2017, they did the same by including sports they
had medal winning prospects and staged a total of 404 events in 38 sports and finished
as champions with 144 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze medals.
Many
countries also raised their concern then, but Malaysia, while compromising for
some sports to be included in their “SEAGF family spirit”, they still had the
events they wanted included as per the SEAGF Charter and Rules.
The rule
clearly defines that the programme to be selected by the hosts, but gives room
for the Games to be diluted.
While
the main grouse is a plethora of irrelevant sports, the first rule states: a
minimum of 22 sports, with events contained therein to be determined based on
the following criteria:
34.1:
there shall be no artificial events… unless the same are already practised in
the Olympic or Asian Games.
34.2: a
minimum of four NOCs must participate in a sport/event for it to be included.
34.3:
with the exception of athletics, aquatics, and shooting, other sports shall not
have more than five percentage of the total number of events or medal tally.
34.4:
Following the existing guidelines of athletics and aquatics (swimming, diving,
water polo) being compulsory sports, with a minimum of 14 sports from Category
II (35 events listed; sports in Olympics and Asian Games) and a maximum of
eight sports from Category III (15 events listed), South East Asian Games
Federation Charter (as at 18 August 2017), 11 sports programme in the Sea Games
should give priority or preference to sports already included in the IOC and
/or OCA sports programmes.
34.6
Each adopted sport must belong to an existing International Sport Federation
and/or an Asian Sport Federation.
34.7 The
Organising Committee may hold as a 'Demonstration Sport', one (1) sport,
subject to approval.
For the
Hanoi Games, the hosts have proposed a total of 36 sports (2 compulsory sports,
29 under Category 2 and five under category 3) with the exception of kurash and
kick-boxing which are not listed in the SEAGF Charter and Rules.
But
kick-boxing could be classified under Boxing which is among the sports in the
list.
At the
three-day SEAGF meeting which ended with the Council meeting on Wednesday via
video conferencing where the 11 members participated, Malaysia had proposed for
the inclusion of 12 more sports, while other members had proposed 11 sports,
for a total 22 sports inclusion.
Malaysia’s
11 sports appealed for inclusion are indoor hockey, tenpin bowling, sailing,
cricket, skateboarding, sambo, floorball, netball, lawn bowls, squash and rugby
sevens, while muay, triathlon, taekwondo, traditional boat race, jiujitsu,
esports, arnis, obstacle course, kempo, teqball and soft tennis have also been
put forward for inclusion by other countries.
However,
no decision was taken on the final list or the appealed sports and a final
decision will only be in the next meeting scheduled in November.
Now, the
lobbying for support between countries for the sports their have recommended
will be intensified as they need a minimum support of four countries to have a
chance to be included in the programme for Hanoi.
When
the Philippines
hosted the Games last year, they had 56 sports and 530 events – the
highest number in the Games history - and emerged champions with 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze
medals.
116
The 2011
Indonesia Sea Games featured 545 events in 44 sports and disciplines, in which
two of them were demonstration sports - the most number of sports in
the Games then, to emerge champions with a haul of 182 gold, 151 silver and 143
bronze medals.
In 2013,
hosts Thailand had 460
events in 34 sports to top the table with 108 gold, 94 silver and 92 bronze.
In
Singapore two years later, 402 events in 36 sports and the island republic
finished runners-up with 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze. Thailand emerged
champions with 95 gold medals.
The Sea
Games, originally known as the SEAP Games and inaugurated in 1959, has
gradually lost its glitz and glamour and is starting to take on the atmosphere
of a carnival-like spectacle.
While
there are conflicting views on the issue, looking at the Games objectively, one
must agree that it has become a showcase for host nation who just want to win
the most number of medals at all costs.
The Sea
Games has no official limit to the number of sports to be contested as this can
be decided by the host nation, but subject to approval by SEAGF.
But the
lobbying for events to be included after the host names its preference sports,
is nothing new.
The
SEAGF has to make some stern decisions, but despite the list of sports listed
in their programme rules, they still face the problem.
Thus,
the time has come for countries to wait for their time to play host and include
the sports of their preference to enhance their chances of becoming champions.
The
Games has become a joke!
Malaysia
is now contemplating sending their Malaysia Games (Sukma) champions to the Sea
Games and with a mixture of senior campaigners.
But OCM
must make it crystal clear if whether they want to use the Sea Games as a
development platform or still harbour the obsession for gold medals.
Ideally,
the SEAGF should just turn the Games into an Under-23 event for development and
stick to Olympics and Asian Games sports, if they are serious about
development. Football in the Games is already confined to the
under-23s.
Otherwise,
the Games will soon become a monster carnival.
What
started with 12 sports in the inaugural Games in Thailand in 1959 had grown to
an average of 30 sports over the years but has now reached a staggering 56
sports which happened in the Philippines last year!
The
other issue is the accelerating costs for the host nation where the Games reflects
economic clout with grand opening and closing ceremonies.
The
money spent on these silly ceremonies can be put to better use for the
development of sports in the host nation.
But with
SEAGF comprising officials of member nations meeting in a family-like
atmosphere where it is common “you scratch my back and I scratch yours”, the
Games will soon continue to morph into a horror Games.
At the
same time, the Games has helped Southeast Asian countries, athletes and
officials in many ways. For example, the managerial skills gained from hosting
the Games prove invaluable to local sports officials when preparing for bigger
international events while home athletes gain a platform to shine and achieve
loftier targets.
But
having covered 12 consecutive Games from 1983 in Singapore to 2005 in Manila,
and another in Singapore in 2015, besides three others in Thailand in 2007, the
2017 KL Sea Games and 2019 Philippines Games (in a different capacity in the
media field), I have seen the best and worst of the Games.
While
overall it was a great experience soaking in the electrifying atmosphere of the
Games, something money cannot buy, the Games has overgrown its purpose and
importance and a serious review is in order.
V Subramaniam receives traditional treatment for his legs.
KUALA
LUMPUR: Former speed walker V Subramaniam, whose application for an MRI scan
for his legs was said to be rejected by the National Athletes Welfare
Foundation (Yakeb), will be examined at the Selayang Hospital today.
Youth
and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican said he had asked Yakeb and
the National Sports Council to assist the SEA Games gold medallist whose plight
was highlighted by FMT yesterday.
He
said he had asked both organisations to assist Subramaniam “wherever we can”,
including in facilitating his admission to hospital for further medical
examination or to the ISN Sports Medicine Centre.
Yakeb
president Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed meanwhile said the foundation had helped
Subramaniam “in many ways”.
Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
He
said Subramaniam had been given Covid-19 aid of RM500 as well as six letters of
guarantee to hospitals. His in-patient and out-patient bills were also paid
for, he said.
Regarding
the MRI scan, he said Yakeb had not received any letter from either Subramaniam
or a hospital.
“However,
to avoid any difficulties on his end, we have urgently arranged for a check-up
at the Selayang Hospital,” he said.
He
also said Yakeb members should follow the guidelines when applying for aid, and
that the foundation had assisted more than 1,700 former athletes since 2018.
Subramaniam,
who was named Malaysian Sportsman of the Year in 1978, had asked for RM1,200 to
undergo the scan four months ago.
He
suffers from stiffness, numbness and pain in both legs which makes it difficult
for him to continue his passion for coaching junior race walkers, or to even
earn a living.
However,
he said his request was rejected, forcing him to seek traditional therapy
instead.
Yakeb president Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed.
He
said Yakeb had told his son and son-in-law that allocations for former athletes
had been stopped, and that the foundation no longer had the necessary budget
when Subramaniam applied for aid.
He
also said he only received one letter of guarantee several years ago for an
angiogram which cost RM900.
The
Covid-19 aid was only given after he requested for it, he added.
“I
am, however, grateful that Yakeb came to my aid after my plight was highlighted
by FMT,” he said.
Offers
of assistance have also been pouring in from well-wishers and organisations.
Subramaniam
won eight SEA Games gold medals in the 10km and 20km race walk events between
1977 and 1989.
He
also trained race walkers who snared gold medals themselves at the same level
from 1993 to 2015.
BLOG VERSION
Mixed reaction to walker Subra’s plight
Tony Mariadass
Subramaniam being given traditional treatment for his leg by sinseh Chin KO at QiTuiNa Holistic Health Centre (FMT pic)
Feathers were ruffled with news of walker V. Subramaniam’s plight of not
getting assistance for his legs which are almost giving up on him.
There was immediate reaction from various quarters namely Yayasan
Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (YAKEB), Ministry of Sports, National Sports Council
(NSC), Federal Territory Schools Sports Council (FTSSC), fans and even the
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).
There was genuine assistance, some reacting to save their face and some
cashing in on the situation.
While the fans were genuine in wanting to assist their iconic walker who
they were prepared to pay for this medical bills, two officials from YAKEB led
by operation manager – Aminuddin Mohd Nasir, an officer from the Ministry of
Sports, a specialist doctor from Selayang Hospital (Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Rahman)
and two MIC officials, headed to Subramaniam’s house in Batu Caves yesterday
afternoon.
NSC director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail called to inquire of
Subramaniam’s state and offered any assistance, while FTSSC director Dr Hasnul
Faizal Hushin Amir also called to offer any medical assistance through them.
YAKEB president, Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed, was informed of the visit
but was unable to visit Subramaniam because he was in Alor Setar to visit beach
volleyball player Mohd Faiz Putra suffered a minor stroke and diagnosed for
cancer.
Noorul in a statement reacting to FMT’s story yesterday on Subramaniam’s
plight said: “YAKEB did help him in many ways.
“In fact, he is one of the recipients of RM500 under YAKEB’s Covid-19
initiatives to help ex-athletes, which he texted me to say thank you
“For the record, as of today, YAKEB has issued six Guarantee Letter (GL)
and paid his in-patient and outpatient bills. The Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) must be adhered, that is - all members must write in /contact YAKEB’s office
to inform us on any assistance they need for our further action. It must
come through our office.
“In Subramaniam’s case, until today YAKEB didn’t receive any form of
letters regarding his magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) or reference letter
from hospital as he claimed
“However, since this has come to our attention and to avoid any
difficulties on his end, we have urgently arranged for his check up at Hospital
Selayang tomorrow (today). We hope similar issues do not arise in the
future as it can be avoided if members follow the SOP accordingly.”
Noorul added that YAKEB since 2018 had assisted more than 1700 ex-athletes
and currently have 3000 members.
“We need to follow the standard SOP and they need to submit the relevant
documents for us to consider and write to other agencies / hospitals to speed
up the process.”
However, Subramaniam responded: “I have only been given one GL for an angiograma few years ago at Assunta Hospital
which cost RM900 and now the RM500 during Covid 19. I was earlier left out of
the list of recipients and only given after I requested and after filling in
some documents.
He added: “Whatever I told FMT is
true when I said my son (called YAKEB and they said allocations for
athletes have been stopped and when my son-in-law called the answer was,
they had no budget and they have now come forward after my plight was
highlighted by FMT to help and I am grateful.
“Tomorrow YAKEB have arranged to take
me to Selayang Hospital to see the doctor to do my MRI and any other check-ups
required.”
Minister of Youth and Sports, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who was in
Penang chairing a couple of meetings found time to respond through a statement.
The statement read:“I
have requested YAKEB and MSN (NSC) to assist him (Subramaniam) wherever we can,
including to facilitate his admission to hospital for further medical
examination or to ISN Sports Medicine Centre.”
Reezal Merican in his recent parliament answer also said that his
Ministry has provided funding (RM100,000) to YAKEB to assist former athletes in
need, and to those affected during this challenging time of unprecedented
Covid-19 pandemic situation.
