Bring about change, MHF

26/10/2002

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) elections today is a foregone
conclusion for some positions, except for the vice-president's posts.
And this augurs well for the development of the sport because it is no
secret that the incumbent vice-presidents, who headed vital committees,
were sleeping on the job.
The technical and development committee, headed by Roy Rajasingam, the
schools committee chaired by Datuk Seri Jen (r) Manap Ibrahim and the
Competitions Committee which was headed by Datuk Abdul Jalil Majid have
done little or nothing to take the sport to the next level - meaning more
than just qualifying for the World Cup and Olympics.
The only way to see hockey on the podium, in a few years is to vote in
fresh vice-presidents to revive the dead committees.
There should also be changes in secretaries of sub-committees.
The Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) have made it known that they
have not been receiving any co-operation from the MHF on how to develop
the sport at the grassroots.
The schools committee had been sleeping on the matter, and only recently
an agreement was struck between the two bodies beginning with a nationwide
youth umpire programme.
MSSM secretary general Adnan Ibrahim and hockey coordinator Mohd Zarawwi
Abdullah hope it will be a continuous joint-effort because from
experience, they know that previous ventures initiated by the MHF which
involved schools had failed as the MHF Schools Committee never got back,
or checked on its progress after launching such programmes.
The umpires are also expected to get a better deal after the elections
as the present MHF Umpires Board chairman V. Kulasingam is expected to get
the sack for being ineffective.
Sabah HA president Datuk Ghapur Salleh is the only vice-president
assured of a post as his appointment is a reserved seat rotated between
Sabah and Sarawak.
But the other four incumbents are expected to fight for positions.
Intense lobbying took place over the past week and going by verbal
commitments from States, Dr S.S. Cheema will win one of the seats.
The other favourites are Johor HA president Datuk Suleiman Mohamed Noor
and Selangor HA vice-president Datuk Mansor Jaafar.
Cheema, Kuala Lumpur HA vice-president, has been successfully running
the lively Kuala Lumpur League, and almost all States are keen to have him
in the parent body.
Cheema is currently the secretary in the MHF medical committee and also
the president of the Malaysian-Singapore Sikh Sports Council.
The word is that the incumbent vice-presidents who will not get another
term are Roy Rajasingam, Jalil and Manap.
Datuk Bashir Majid, a corporate man who has helped the MHF on the quiet,
is the only incumbent vice-president who might get re-elected.
Incumbent president Sultan Azlan Shah will be returned unopposed as the
other contenders - Sultan Ahmad Shah, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Tan
Sri Elyas Omar and Datuk Abu Bakar Daud - have gracefully withdrawn from
the race.
Tan Sri P. Alagendra is expected to be re-elected as deputy president
although a fight can be expected from Elyas who hosted an eleventh-hour
dinner last night to strengthen his position among the fence-sitting
States.
S. Satgunam is a sure bet to retain his secretary's post in light of his
10 nominations from Armed Forces, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri
Sembilan, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor.
In contrast his challenger Mohamed Zaki Abdul Rahman only received
backing from Kuala Lumpur.
For the treasurer's post, incumbent S. Perampalam will receive stiff
challenge from George Koshy.
Who will eventually win is still hazy as most States are in two minds -
whether to retain the old guard who almost caused the MHF to be deemed as
an illegal body because he allowed two States which did not pay
affiliation fees to vote in the 1999 elections, or to install a
professional accountant.
But it's learnt that the MHF would like to have an accountant handling
their financial affairs this time around.
Probable line-up:
President - Sultan Azlan Shah.
Deputy President - Tan Sri P. Alagendra.
Vice-Presidents: Datuk Ghapur Salleh, Datuk Bashir Majid, Datuk Suleiman
Mohamed Noor, Dr S.S Cheema, Datuk Mansor Jaafar.
Secretary: S. Satgunam.
Treasurer: George Koshy.
(END)