OCM requested to arbitrate

30/08/2002


By Jugjet Singh; K. M. Boopathy

SPORTS Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein has given the green light for
the Sports Commissioner's office to look into the affairs of the Malaysian
Hockey Federation, but he would prefer arbitration first.
"I have no objections for the Sports Commissioner's office to probe into
the MHF issue, but before the Sports Commissioner (Datuk Mahamad Zabri
Min) deals with MHF, I would rather that the Olympic Council of Malaysia
play an arbitrator's role first," said Hishammuddin when met at his office
yesterday.
"If arbitration fails, then the Sports Commissioner will have to settle
the issue," said the Minister.
And in reply, OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar welcomed
with open arms the proposal to arbitrate in the MHF saga.
When met after presenting prizes to winners of the SportExcel Asia-
Pacific Match-Play Championships at the Rahman Putra Golf Club in Kuala
Lumpur, Tunku Imran said "The idea is not to punish MHF, but to help them
put their house in order.
"MHF obviously erred and I wholly agree with Hishammuddin because it
would be better if we help MHF set their affairs straight. I personally do
not like to be retrospective because we can't change the clock, so the
more practical solution would be to look forward and find ways on how to
rectify the situation," said Tunku Imran.
Tunku Imran was also more concerned about the defacto than the dejure.
"I feel that the current situation was not planned or intended but
exists because of a law, that is why it is useless to punish them (MHF)."
MHF got themselves tangled in a gripping web when they failed to make
sure that their members paid affiliation fees before March 31 every year
to be able to vote in council meetings and elections.
MHF treasurer S. Perampalam wrote, on Aug 22, requesting all 15 of their
affiliates to settle arreas before the Oct 26 Biennial General Meeting.
Penang State Hockey Association owed the MHF affiliation fees for the last
six years which amounted to RM900, Kelantan HA RM700 and Perlis RM600.
Another 10 had not paid the fees for 2001 while none have settled the
2002 fees.
Kelantan and Penang voted in the last elections in 1999, thus making the
elections null and void because the MHF constitution clearly states that
defaulters have no voting rights.
"This sort of matters (late payment of fees) will go on as long as we
have volunteers and part-timers running associations. That is why I have
always been in favour of a fulltime paid staff, say an executive
secretary, to run the show where they can be held accountable and can be
sacked if they do not perform their duties. It is harder to discipline
elected officials because of omissions rather than intentional mistakes,"
said Tunku Imran.
Tunku Imran also urged the National Sports Council (NSC) to hand out
subsidies to employ fulltime officials, after which "there will be no more
room for excuses."
Also, for a start, Tunku Imran suggested that MHF should collect their
affiliation fees from the subsidies that are handed out.
"Many sports associations hand out subsidies to their affiliates after
deducting the affiliation fees. In this way, the question of being late
will never arise. I hope MHF will follow this system in the near future,"
said Imran.
But MHF vice-president Roy Rajasingham and assistant treasurer S.
Jahendran, who are also the OCM legal advisor and general administrator
respectively, will not sit on the arbitration panel.
(END)