Zabri to remove deadwood

06/09/2002

FINALLY, after what must have seemed like a lifetime to come, the days of
sports officials overstaying their usefulness, is about to end.
The Sports Commissioner's office is in the midst of amending the 1997
Sports Development Act to limit the term of office bearers to a maximum of
four years.
Sports Commissioner Datuk Mahamat Zabri Min said yesterday that plans
are afoot to amend the Development Act to weed out incompetant officials
who hang on to their posts and do more harm than good.
It is believed that the Commissioner's office is keen on a two-term
proposal for sports officials.
"We have discussed the matter (Zabri did not reveal with whom) and the
consensus was that we have to either amend the Sports Development Act or
the easier way will be to insert it as an additional schedule in the
existing act," said Zabri.
The proposal is almost ready and will be sent to the Sports Minister's
office soon for his approval.
The Commissioner's Office feels that they no longer have a choice as
numerous complaints have been received of malpractice at the top level,
but the same officials have been re-elected time and again ... sometimes
for decades.
"The proposal to limit the years in office will not be a blanket
decision because we need to treat associations case-by-case. Some of the
officials will be allowed to serve longer because they are genuinely
needed while those who do more harm than good will be asked to vacate
their posts after a number of years," said Zabri.
A provision will be placed in the amended Act which will provide for the
re-appointment or election of such a candidates who feel that he/she has
served the association well.
"Those who feel that they have served the association well can seek the
permission of the Sports Minister to allow for an extension for another
term," said Zabri.
Amending the Sports Development Act or inserting a schedule to limit the
number of years an official spends in office will be felt at all levels,
and not limited to the presidents.
"We have given this matter due consideration and feel it will help to
promote and develop sports in the country. But I must make it clear that
we are not on a witch hunt or have any particular association in mind."
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has come under heavy fire from
some of their affiliates who feel that important decisions are being made
by a select group of people and some of the MHF committees no longer
function properly.
"We need to make some changes in the Act to move with the times. I feel
that this is the only way to remove deadwood in sports associations and
not step on anybody's toes," said Zabri.
The proposal of limiting the tenure of sports officials was initially
included as one of the clauses in the Sports Development Act when it was
drafted.
But it did not see the light of day as the Olympic Council of Malaysia
(OCM) led the pressure group which opposed the idea.
However, OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar recently made
it known that he was prepared to lead by example by incorporating a clause
in the OCM constitution.
The presidents of some associations have dug themselves into a bunker
while some have been hiding behind their influence.
But that is set to change soon.
(END)