Marching on confidently

17/12/1997

THESE day you get to hear and see more of Datuk Seri Manap Ibrahim, the
Sukom Ninety Eight Bhd Chief Operating Officer. Whatever happened to their
Chief Executive Chairman, Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Hashim Mohamed Ali?
The retired chief of the Armed Forces, who created a stir with his
sudden resignation in June and equally speedy withdrawal of it, is seldom
seen at Sukom functions.
There was even talk within the sporting fraternity that Hashim wants
out. Names such as Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar have been touted as likely
successors but senior Sukom officials have denied it.
Hashim is best remembered for that well publicised resignation episode
when he threw in the towel after a spate of criticisms
of town for weeks and- incidentally gave the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth
Games wide publicity.
Since that episode, the 60 year-old Hashim has been a little subdued. No
more the gungho ex-general ready to take on the world. Always on the
defensive, protecting Sukom like a "priceless jewel".
Randhir Singh, who interviewed the man found him as affable cheerful and
still enthusiastic as he was when he first took the job in March 1993.
what role is left for you?
A: No, Muhyiddin is there to assist me. We (Sukom) remain the organisers
of the Games. People may consider it as interference but Muhyiddin's role
is to just assist me.
Q: You mean to say you are not playing second fiddle to Muhyiddin?
A: No.
Q: How is the morale of Sukom staff after your resignation episode?
A: High. Very, very high and looking forward to the Games. They are
dedicated and doing well.
Q: Are Sukom in full gear with about nine months to the Games?
A: I think Nashatar Singh's operations department is in full swing. The
rest are providing good support.
Q: Will. you resign again from Sukom for whatever reason with less than
a year to go. There is talk that you are unhappy and
may resign?
A: No truth in it. No question about me resigning.
Q: Will volunteerism work in Malaysia. Can Sukom mobilise 15,000
volunteers for free and the best out of them?
A: We underestimate our youth. Their volunteerism spirit. You will be
surprised with the fire in them. Our encounter with them gives us
tremendous encouragement that Malaysia's biggest volunterism exercise
during the 10-day Games will not only be a success but will bring about a
new meaning to the concept for volunteerism.
Q: Tan Sri, with the current severe economic problems faced by the
country I don't see how Sukom can escape the trimming exercise?
A: Yes the fat needs to be trimmed. No two ways about it. The budget of
RM305 million is one thing but that does not mean we must spend that much.
For example if we have budget ed RM1.50 per drink for the volunteers we
will not hes istate to purchase it for RM1.20 if it is made available.
For instance we have budgeted RM180 per person for a hotel room but come
September 1998 if we can get RM120, we will go for it.
Sukom promises Malaysians that we will cut down.
Q: Tan Sri, the success or failure of any Games hinges to some extent on
the level of participation. The quality of the field is vital. With no
appearance fee and the Games itself merely a gathering of former British
colonies, how do you see the Games?
A: Well, in any Games you are bound to see some withdrawals due to
various factors such as injuries, illness and clash of schedules. But so
far only England have said they will not send teams for cricket and rugby.
Australia, a powerhouse in these two sports, have confirmed they are
coming.
(END)