THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has never seen such an intense campaigning in their half a century history, as candidates start making their final calls and rounds for the May 13 elections.
While the president, Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal won unopposed when nominations closed on April 28, the deputy president's posts are being contested by heavyweights in their own rights.
In the men's deputy president battle it will be a straight-fight between former Kuala Lumpur HA president George Koshy and incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
The women's deputy president post will also see a straight battle between incumbent vice-president's S. Shamala and K. Maheswari.
George, who has also held the post of senior team manager for a decade, said he hopes to see changes this time around, as in the past, most pre-election ideas fizzled out after the hype and fanfare of canvassing for votes.
"In my mind it isn’t a battle between Datuk Azmi and I. It’s more akin to who is the right person to initiate and implement the much needed changes MHC requires.
"This isn’t a popularity contest, about any individual or state, it is about Malaysian hockey, which is the only world recognised team sport which is doing relatively well in the country," said George.
He feels the new team will have to make hard decisions, tough calls and drastic changes to the leadership, infrastructure, financial position cum sponsorship structure.
"There is so much to be done, even in competitions format, the national team and age group programs, players welfare and imaging. Ultimately it comes to re-branding MHC to be current, relevant and in line with the changes taking place globally," said Koshy.
Going by Koshy's manifesto, MHC needs a total overhaul, so states must cast their votes for the best among the two who they feel can make it happen.
As for Azmi, he also has many plans and has been busy on a blazing campaign trail.
"As a senior vice-president for many years, I have helped many states as well as individuals who needed help to develop hockey. Everybody in MHC is family and there are no enemies. George and I have also worked together on many occasions, but unfortunately the delegates can only choose one," said Azmi.
Azmi also feels the MHC needs an overhaul from top to bottom: "Before this only the president (Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah) used to bring in the money but now, MHC needs a strong team to not only bring in the money, but also plan and execute sound development plans.
"For example, I personally feel that the 1Mas Programme is heading nowhere and and needs urgent attention. The programme is supposed to unearth new talent and not nurture those who are already in hockey playing schools as well as belong to clubs.
"1Mas should be training at least 1,000 new kids every year, but their focus is more on developing players who had already been identified by hockey schools or states. This is not what 1Mas was set up for, and I feel it needs urgent revamp," was one of Azmi's election clarion call.
The stage is set, and the ceramah's albeit among small target group, has come out with many plans to help MHC and hockey grow stronger at the world stage.
The delegates have less than a week to make their mind, before going to the ballot on May 13.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Sarawak poser...
MORE administrative worms crawled out of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) affiliates as their May 13 election fever reaches a burning point.
This time, it was Sarawak HA's turn to fail miserably in merging the men and women's section and Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaitun Othman has caught them by their scrotum.
"Sarawak have yet to merge their men and women's section as well as register with the Sports Commissioner's office. However, they still have time to rectify the situation by submitting the relevant paperwork before May 13 to be eligible to vote," said Zaiton.
Zaiton said she only needed a minute to approve their paper work, if its in order.
A merger between the men and women has long been championed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) but MHC affiliates have been slow as snails to get this administrative side in order.
"Sarawak can still vote in the May 13 elections, provided they give me the completed paperwork. I would only need a minute to make them legal voters when everything is provided," said Zaitun.
The worrying factor is that Sarawak HA have been actively involved in the MHC matters for the last three years even though they have yet to register with the Sports Commissioner's office.
The Sports Development act 1997 came to force in East Malaysia in 2012, but Sarawak have yet to comply with its requirements.
Sarawak were also involved in nomination candidates for the MHC elections.
"If they submit the papers, they can vote, if not it is better Sarawak HA stay away from the MHC Annual General Meeting (AGM)," said an MHC official who declined to be named.
The other worm came out from Perlis' can, as they have yet to submit annual reports since 2012.
"The Sports Commissioner's office has sent a warning letter to Perlis on as they have yet to submit their annual reports to us. But Perlis can still vote in the AGM as we have only warned them to comply," clarified Zaitun.
The odd matter was that while Sawarak, still registered with the Registrar of Societies, sent in nominations for the election, Perlis did not nominate anybody as they feared being branded as an illegal body.
Sarawak HA secretary William Lee could not be contacted for comments.
This time, it was Sarawak HA's turn to fail miserably in merging the men and women's section and Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaitun Othman has caught them by their scrotum.
"Sarawak have yet to merge their men and women's section as well as register with the Sports Commissioner's office. However, they still have time to rectify the situation by submitting the relevant paperwork before May 13 to be eligible to vote," said Zaiton.
Zaiton said she only needed a minute to approve their paper work, if its in order.
A merger between the men and women has long been championed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) but MHC affiliates have been slow as snails to get this administrative side in order.
"Sarawak can still vote in the May 13 elections, provided they give me the completed paperwork. I would only need a minute to make them legal voters when everything is provided," said Zaitun.
The worrying factor is that Sarawak HA have been actively involved in the MHC matters for the last three years even though they have yet to register with the Sports Commissioner's office.
The Sports Development act 1997 came to force in East Malaysia in 2012, but Sarawak have yet to comply with its requirements.
Sarawak were also involved in nomination candidates for the MHC elections.
"If they submit the papers, they can vote, if not it is better Sarawak HA stay away from the MHC Annual General Meeting (AGM)," said an MHC official who declined to be named.
The other worm came out from Perlis' can, as they have yet to submit annual reports since 2012.
"The Sports Commissioner's office has sent a warning letter to Perlis on as they have yet to submit their annual reports to us. But Perlis can still vote in the AGM as we have only warned them to comply," clarified Zaitun.
The odd matter was that while Sawarak, still registered with the Registrar of Societies, sent in nominations for the election, Perlis did not nominate anybody as they feared being branded as an illegal body.
Sarawak HA secretary William Lee could not be contacted for comments.
Datuk Rahim bows out...
DATUK Rahim Ariff, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice-president for the last 10 years, has thrown in the towel three days before the election bailout date.
When nominations closed on April 28, Rahim received the higest for vice president with nine states naming him.
The exit date for candidates is May 9, while elections will be on May 13.
"We received a letter from Datuk Rahim today (yesterday) stating that he does not want to stand for elections as he feels he has served enough for the last 10 years," said MHC Competition Committee secretary Hashim Yusoff, who is in charge of accepting nominations.
Seven men and three women were nominated for the veep position which requires a minimum of two women and five men to be elected. However, if the third placed woman received higher votes than that of the fifth placed man, she would also be eligible to become a vice-president and the numbers will be three and four.
With six men standing, and two more days to withdraw, at least one more candidate is contemplating throwing in the towel.
The six remaining men are incumbent Manjit Majid Abdullah (eight nominations), Penang HA president Datuk Ow Soon Kooi (seven), MHC treasurer Datuk N. Radhakrishnan (nine), Kedah HA president Sathis Kumar (seven), A. Vijayshankar (one) and Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam (six).
The women's vice-presidents, minimum two posts, will see a three-cornered fight among Juriah Abdul Wahab (three), Nik Zarah Kadir (four) and S. Nagula (Four).
As for the two deputy president's positions, it would be straight fights between George Koshy and Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad; and S. Shamala and K. Maheswari.
When nominations closed on April 28, Rahim received the higest for vice president with nine states naming him.
The exit date for candidates is May 9, while elections will be on May 13.
"We received a letter from Datuk Rahim today (yesterday) stating that he does not want to stand for elections as he feels he has served enough for the last 10 years," said MHC Competition Committee secretary Hashim Yusoff, who is in charge of accepting nominations.
Seven men and three women were nominated for the veep position which requires a minimum of two women and five men to be elected. However, if the third placed woman received higher votes than that of the fifth placed man, she would also be eligible to become a vice-president and the numbers will be three and four.
With six men standing, and two more days to withdraw, at least one more candidate is contemplating throwing in the towel.
The six remaining men are incumbent Manjit Majid Abdullah (eight nominations), Penang HA president Datuk Ow Soon Kooi (seven), MHC treasurer Datuk N. Radhakrishnan (nine), Kedah HA president Sathis Kumar (seven), A. Vijayshankar (one) and Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam (six).
The women's vice-presidents, minimum two posts, will see a three-cornered fight among Juriah Abdul Wahab (three), Nik Zarah Kadir (four) and S. Nagula (Four).
As for the two deputy president's positions, it would be straight fights between George Koshy and Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad; and S. Shamala and K. Maheswari.
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