Investigate Randburg, MHF

20/08/2003

THE spirit of protectionism in its core and original form, must have been
built on honest intentions and honourable values. Then, man evolved
further, and since then, given it a whole new perspective that now
balances precariously between safety and conspiracy.
The lines have been so blurred in this new context of protectionism that
it has become virtually impossible to tell if you are really helping or
conspiring against the one you profess to protect. Is it a cover that you
are providing, or a cover-up?
When master tacticians throw the proverbial bureaucratic cloak over
something that could be incriminating, it's not a cover-up. That's
strategic planning. For, by protecting the offender from prostration, they
have secured the exponent's silence and undivided loyalty.
If he is a formidable opponent, there would be neither cover nor a
cover-up. Which, if you come to think of it, also works out just fine for
the unsuspecting victims - namely you and me.
If he is a crony, the cover-up is normally dictated by, for want of a
better word in this context, honourable intentions. Like they say, the
path to hell is sometimes paved with good intentions.
But in this context though, honesty would normally prevail - as we have
seen so often - only after a cover is blown or when the damage has become
too colossal to cloak.
Which brings us to the raging forum in websites, expounding the alleged
sex scandal of two hockey players in South Africa recently during the
Champions Challenge where the national team took the nation deeper into
the abyss of oblivion.
For the record Malaysia, who started as favourites, finished last in
this tournament.
The call from readers and the sport's followers, is for an inquiry, a
thorough investigation to ascertain the credibility of the allegations,
and expose the offenders.
Just as alarming are suggestions that the Malaysian sportswriters who
were in Randburg to cover the tournament, were part of a conspiracy to
cover up the scandal.
Timesport's hockey writer Jugjet Singh, who had stayed in a different
hotel from the national team, explains that though he had heard about it,
wasn't able to chronicle it as he was neither a witness to the alleged
scandal, nor was he able to affirm it with an official statement.
All Jugjet was witness to was that, the two ladies in question were
vacationing Malaysian stewardesses who were friends of the two players,
stayed in the same hotel as the Malaysian sportswriters, and supported the
team in matches.
Team manager, Zulkifli Abbas - a former national goalkeeper - whom I
spoke to yesterday, said he is submitting a thorough report to the
Malaysian Hockey Federation and is leaving the question of an inquiry to
the discretion of the national body.
"And if they (MHF) find there is a cover-up, that is if they decide to
investigate further, I will be the first to resign," he assured.
But given the attention this bit of disturbing news has received from
the fraternity here and internationally, it would be judicious for the MHF
to conduct an inquiry with the genuine interest of getting to the truth -
whatever it may be - of this alleged scandal.
And may I suggest that this inquiry be conducted by an independent unit
that's neither subservient nor beholden to all the parties concerned, and
one that's hand-picked by the Sports Commissioner, Datuk Mahamad Zabri
Min.
We can't leave this to the MHF simply because they won't be absolved
from cries of a cover-up, even if they genuinely find after thorough
investigations, that the allegations were unfounded.
And the Sports Ministry - as much as its minister Datuk Hishammuddin
Hussein might want to declare it an internal affair - has to be involved
as the credibility of the sport's athletes, and its management have been
publicly challenged.
For, the last thing that anyone wants here is for faceless website
contributors, and ardent hockey followers - as genuine as they may be - to
act as judge, jury and executioner, without according the reluctant
`defendants' their constitutional right of a proper `trial'
And if there indeed was a cover-up at Randburg, then Zulkifli should
honour his word by being "the first to resign" and the offenders expelled
from the national team.
As for the local sports media, I believe we are still very much in the
business of covering issues and events, and not involved in the politics
of cover-ups.
(END)