Let's hear it from Malaysia

01/01/2003

DATUK Hishammuddin Hussein was not a keen Sports Minister as he hesitated
when the position fell in his lap after the 1999 General Elections.
His sceptism and hesitation stemmed from the fact that controversies in
sports were a daily affair. He wondered if he was strong enough to handle
the situation like his predecessors did.
But after three years at the helm, the sports loving minister is
enjoying his term in office and with experience gained from handling
controversies in the Malaysian AAU, Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia
(STAM) and the Malaysian Hockey Federation - to name a few - he is all set
to lead Malaysia into the next era.
Q: If the Government decides to post you to another ministry today, what
legacy would you have left after three years as the Sports Minister?
A: The Ministry worked hard to include sports in the Eighth Malaysia
Plan (2001-2005) and the Third Long Term Plan for Malaysia, and I am proud
to say that it was one of my greatest achievements.
With its inclusion, sports will no longer be sidelined from the overall
development plan for Malaysia. And we have outlined four categories of
sports for better management and long term planning. The four are - high
performance sports, sports for all, extreme sports and new sports.
It was of paramount importance for sports to be included in the two
Plans because only then can we achieve results at the world level. We now
have a very sound plan to take sports through the 2004 Athens Olympics and
the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and further.
With world class facilities in place (the National Bukit Sports Complex)
after successfully hosting the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, and
the backing of the Government (National Sports Council included), Olympic
Council of Malaysia (OCM) and national sports associations, Malaysia has
done extremely well in the last few years but there is still much work to
be done before we can truly become a sporting nation like Australia.
Q: How do you rate the year 2002 for sports?
A: 2002 has been an extremely fruitful year for sports.
Malaysia did extremely well in the Kuala Lumpur Hockey World Cup, the
Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games and I pay tribute to the athletes,
coaches and officials who worked hard to win medals for the country.
I also salute the sound development programmes initiated in Jaya `98,
but I liken the plans to a marathon runner who has just completed a few
miles of his run and needs to keep his pace or get lost in the chasing
pack.
Malaysia won 111 gold, 75 silver and 85 bronze in the 2001 Sea Games
(under the Jaya `98 programme) an it was actually a stepping stone for
confidence to grow and our athletes to excel at bigger platforms.
Q: Is winning medals at the Sea Games still a priority?
A: Winning medals at the Sea Games level is good, but Malaysia must
start looking higher. That is why I am willing to take risks in the next
Sea Games by fielding young athletes and not those who have done well at a
higher level.
Malaysia might not win as many gold medals in Vietnam 2003 but by using
it as an avenue to expose up-and-coming athletes - the public might not
react favourably to the plan - but I strongly feel that winning medals at
the Sea Games should no longer be our priority as we look at the bigger
picture to become world beaters.
Q: There were as many controversies as achievements in 2002, do you see
any end to it?
A: No. Controversies will be there as long as people take part in
sports. The Sports Commissioner's office will have to deal with it case-
by-case.
Q: What were the other issues solved by the Sports Act?
A: Associations have been slow in registering with the Sports
Commissioner's office and since the inception of the Sports Act in 1997,
only 532 sports bodies registered until 2001. This year, after much
persuasion and subtle warnings, the number increased to 1,098
associations.
Even though the Sports Act hands the ministry the right to take any
action deemed necessary to safeguard sports, we have been using `The
Development Touch' as opposed to drastic actions like de-registration. The
only exception was MAAU.
The Sports Act also has its limitations as it does not cover Sabah,
Sarawak, Labuan and grassroots associations which are still registered
with the Registrar Of Societies (ROS).
The issue of accountability arises and it is not clear whether they come
under the Sports Act or the ROS. This issue is currently being tackled by
the Sports Commissioner.
In the registered associations, the many problems that crop up are
because they do not follow their own constitution. As an example, 44 per
cent or 305 associations did not hold their Annual General Meeting in 2002
even though they were supposed to do so under their constitution.
The problem is widespread in Terengganu and Kelantan. In Terengganu,
almost 80 percent of the 41 associations did not hold meetings while in
Kelantan, 63 per cent, or 24 associations, failed to meet.
Q: What is the Sports Commissioner's office doing about it? And what
about development plans? Do associations submit them on a regular basis?
A: The Commissioner's office has sent numerous reminders to the errant
associations but it has resuletd in a stalemate. But if they persist with
the old ways in the new year, then they will be asking for trouble.
And on development programmes, the ministry is finding it hard to get
everyone to submit their plans. And when the Sports Commissioner requested
all 78 national associations to submit their plans and tournaments that
they will be organising from 2002 to 2007, only 20 associations, or 25.6
per cent, responded.
And out of the 20 received, only 15 had submitted plans on tournaments
they will be hosting over a period of five years.
Q: From what has been outlined above, the future looks very bleak for
sports in Malaysia?
A: On the contrary. You are getting the same feeling that I had when I
first took over the Sports Minister's post. I was flabbergasted with the
problems that besieged me but I have learnt to solve all problems with the
bigger picture in mind.
Some of the associations might not be doing their work properly, but the
athletes have been training hard and the medals in 2002 speak for
themselves.
And the plans that have been formulated right up till 2010 will become a
reality because we have identified 20 sports which will receive full
backing from the NSC so that medals can be won at the international level.
All this while, we have been spreading our resources thinly and now want
to narrow the scope only on associations which have been running well. The
20 sports will receive the funding and necessary training. If Singapore
can spend S$500 million only on five sports and reap the rewards, I see no
reason why we can't rely on 20 sports to bring in international class
medals.
Q: How do you summarise your plans for 2003?
A: I want to go higher. I want to see athletes using the Malaysia Games
and Sea Games as stepping stones and not stiff challenges. I want to move
forward and higher and higher.
One day, I want to see more Malaysians stand at the top of the Olympic
podium and the national anthem being played regularly at international
meets. All this will take off with sound plans from next year.
(END)