Amarjit: MHFUB members should resign

13/05/2002

MALAYSIA'S No 1 umpire Amarjit Singh has called for the Malaysian Hockey
Federation Umpires Board (MHFUB) members to resign en-bloc because they
have done little over the years for their members.
Amarjit, who was the only Malaysian umpire who blew in the recent Kuala
Lumour World Cup, does not care if his remarks will lead to a suspension,
because he is fed-up with the current situation.
"I am not a `yes man' to the MHFUB. The `yes men' will stay around for a
long time but those who speak the truth always get sacrificed. Those who
work are always `killed' and in this case, the umpires and their umpiring
has been killed by the MHFUB.
"If taking action against me is going to improve the standard of
umpiring, then so be it. I am willing to be the sacrificial lamb to the
MHFUB, if my stand will benefit the rest of the Malaysian umpires.
"After I came out in the open to highlight weaknesses in the MHFUB,
chairman V. Kulasingam threatened to take action by throwing the code of
ethics at me. I have a message for him: `don't threaten, come out and
prove my allegations wrong'," said Amarjit after officiating the Tenaga-
Maybank match at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium yesterday.
"The MHFUB chairman Kulasingam should be humble and not arrogant when
umpires suggest improvements. But since he was not willing to even reply
to one of the many allegations I made, it proves that I have spoken the
truth," said Amarjit.
Amarjit alleged that the MHFUB, among others, had not done much to
promote umpiring at the district and state levels, because they have an
indifferent attitude towards developing and promoting umpiring.
Kulasingam replied that "... he who has spoken about it without going
through the proper channels will find out the consequences soon."
"What proper channels is Kulasingam talking about? Exactly a year ago, I
spoke at length to him about development programmes and even gave him a
pile of notes to be distributed to the umpires. He was even given a tape
and a VCD on umpiring but until today, there has been no action from him.
Didn't I go through the proper channels first?," questioned Amarjit.
"The chairman and secretary (Teo Choon Seng) flew to Sabah to witness
the upgrading of umpires but didn't even attend the Malaysia Hockey League
meeting which was in their neighbourhood. It is no use to umpires in the
country to score near perfect marks (90 and above) in the theory exams if
they do not prove their worth on the pitch."
After airing Amarjit's views, TimeSport received numerous calls from
umpires who feel the same.
"I have spoken to my fellow umpires and they all agree that it is time
for umpiring to have a structure like the FA of Malaysia has for
referees."
FAM's referees committee is headed by independent council member Tan Sri
Zain Hashim.
(END)