COMMENT
by Jugjet Singh

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) council mem bers will sail into uncharted territory without a compass and map when they deliberate on changes to their constitution at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.
Council members know that MHF president Tengku Ab dullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is keen to amend their con stitution and turn the post of secretary from elected to appointed, but as of yesterday, they have yet to receive a draft of the said amendment.
This has deprived them a chance to study and propose any changes, if necessary, before the matter is brought up at today’s council meeting.
A check with several council members yesterday revealed that they have not been given a draft on the said amendment to study, and so, they will be sailing blindly, and the proposal could end up as a wreck.
The proposal is simple, but it might need a strong hand to see it from a draft, to accepted by a 2/3 majority in an Extraordinary General Meeting.
Only then can the MHF implement it by the end of the year, when they hold their elections.
Tengku Abdullah is expected to have his hands full an swering questions from his council members, if they find their voice in his presence. As it stands right now, five states that were called by this scribe have nothing nice to say about the proposal.
The general feeling is that a salaried secretary will feel that he is only answerable to the president, and states might lose their voice on many matters.
Several council members also felt that if the secretary is appointed, there would no longer be a need to have a general manager.
Right now, the elected secretary is Hashim Yusoff, while former international Maninderjit Singh is the general man ager.
And even at present, there is a thin line of demarcation which separates their duties, and many feel having two salaried staff is one too many.
MHF council members have debated the pros and cons of this exercise energetically, when engaged in a conversation, and hopefully, they find their voice at the meeting today.
There have been many precedents where all those with a strong corridor opinion keep quiet when presented with a chance to speak, and it could be the same today.
There is also another matter, involving misappropriation of money, which has been making its rounds among the council members.
If there is proof, bring it up today, but if its only empty talk, quash it with a statement from the Council. If not, this alleged story will continue making its rounds, and eventually ruin the reputation of innocent officials.