MHF looks for fresh approach

09/11/2002

THE first Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) council meeting, after the
Biennial General Meeting last month, is expected to shake up and awaken
committees which have been in a slumber for years.
Changes are said to be on the cards as the appointments of the MHF sub-
committee chairmen will be decided today. The committees involved are the
Technical and Development, Coaching, Schools and Competitions Committee.
The MHF Umpires Board, previously chaired by V. Kulasingam, is also set
to see some changes as MHF look for a fresh approach to take hockey to the
next level.
"The sub-committee chairpersons, as suggested by the States, will have a
blend of old and youth. MHF is looking to appoint only those who can
contribute to the game and is no longer interested in people who shirk
their duites," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam.
The MHF committees, especially the Schools and Competitions Committees,
were dormant for the last three years and much of the work was done on an
ad hoc basis by the MHF standing committee, but after the BGM, MHF
president Sultan Azlan Shah set the tone for changes when he made sure the
date for the next MHF BGM be set in July 2004.
"Unlike previously when the council meetings were held only when we had
the time, now there will be a more systematic approach. I will submit to
the council tomorrow (today) the proposed dates for the council meetings
and there should be no more excuses that members were not informed early
and are unable to make it," said Satgunam.
The proposal is to hold four council meetings next year and the dates
have been set for Feb 15, May 17, Aug 1 and Nov 15. Before each council
meeting, the sub-commitees will meet at least a week in advance and
prepare their reports which will be presented to the council at the
meetings.
"I would also like to appeal to all the committee chairmen and members
who will be appointed tomorrow (today) to start working independently and
not to rely on the standing committee or wait for things to fall on their
laps," said Satgunam.
"It is very important that ties with schoools (Schools Committee) are
strenghtened on the committee's own initiative. The Technical and
Development Committee should also work as a separate arm and come out with
constructive ideas to improve hockey," he added.
The early indications are that newly elected vice-president Dr S.S.
Cheema will be appointed as Competitions Committee chairman as he has the
expertise of organising the highly successful Kuala Lumpur league for
years.
The rest of the appointments will be made after proposals from the
States are tabled today.
The appointment of three MHF Independent Members will also be made
today. The former independent members were former MHF secretary Datuk G.
Vijayanathan, former National Sports Council director of international
preparations Ho Koh Chye and Datuk Anwar Mohamed Nor from the Armed
Forces.
MHF, and this means the States who propose candidates for the
independent members post, must be realistic as the selected officials must
be seen to be active and not just materialise when there are major
tournaments.
As for the Umpires Board, the suggestion to have a breakaway arm
affiliated to MHF might not materialise but there are expected to be
changes once a new chairman is appointed to run the almost defunct arm of
the Federation.
The delegates will congregate at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur today
to chart the future of Malaysian hockey, and if they choose to remain
quiet and be just mere observers, they should hold their peace and suffer
in silence until the present term ends.
(END)