The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Mr OCM speaks his mind
- Some other challenges highlighted by Kok Chi
- Chong Wei beats Kenichi to book a spot in Hong Kong Open final
| Posted: 24 Nov 2012 04:43 PM PST DATUK Sieh Kok Chi's greying hair and wrinkled face say it all. Age has certainly caught up with him but the good news is that he has not lost his fervour and passion to keep Malaysian sports abreast of the times. The 74-year-old veteran administrator is still as vocal as before. He still stands up for the downtrodden. He still steps on the toes of many, standing firm on his principles, beliefs and values. Kok Chi celebrates his 20th year as the honorary secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on Nov 28. He talks to Starsport's RAJES PAUL in a no-holds-barred look at Malaysian sports. Q: What has kept you going all these years? A: My transition from an athlete to administrator and then honorary secretary of OCM was, to me, a natural process. I kept going because what I'm doing is very challenging, satisfying, fulfilling and beneficial to sport and the athletes. As a volunteer, I'm totally independent but, at the same time, I have heavy responsibilities. Since I have a vision on what OCM should be, I have set myself targets to fulfill. Q: What has been your most significant contribution? A: It has to be my promotion of the concept that OCM are a "Games" organisation and not a "Sport" organisation. Our properties are the Olympic, Asian, Commonwealth and SEA Games and all the National Sports Associations (NSAs) become members of OCM because of their desire to participate in them. Although I'm the elected honorary secretary of OCM, I'm basically a volunteer worker who has been clocking in at least eight hours a day for six to seven days a week, for the last 20 years. I don't have much power nor do I need any power because my work is sufficient to justify my role in OCM. Q: In what way have you changed as a person through all these experiences? A: Through sports, I have had the opportunity to closely associate and be involved with all sorts of people. I got to know the best and the worse of them. I have a better understanding of people and their character, which enabled me to understand them better and relate to them more effectively. I made many friends all over the world, who, like me, are trying their best to do a good job against many similar challenges. I have also learnt that to be an effective and efficient sports official, one cannot hold too many posts. Some sports officials hold 10 or more posts and they can't do much because time is against them. I decided long ago to concentrate only on OCM. Of course, it is glamorous and beneficial to hold many international posts and be jetting all over the world, sometimes with attractive per diems as well. Q: What challenges have you faced and why? A: Due to my years of experience, I have first-hand and in-depth knowledge of the sports environment in Malaysia in general and of OCM in particular. I would like to highlight three main challenges; Firstly, on funding. I remember the days when OCM were very poor and my predecessor Thong Poh Nyen was always worried whether he had enough to pay the salaries of the four staff members. We now have 16 staff. I have learnt that OCM must be thrifty to carry out their basic responsibilities without having to face uncertainties. Fortunately, OCM have managed to have some surplus funds to undertake their operations without having to beg. The amount is, however, still insufficient and OCM have to depend on government grants to participate in the various Games. We have to raise more funds to be self-reliant. Secondly, OCM's relationship with the government. OCM, in general, and I, in particular, try our best to maintain and strengthen good relationship with the government because we are partners. While our objectives are the same, our approach and style are different because one of the fundamental roles and missions of a National Olympic Committee (NOC) is to preserve its autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind — be it political, legal, religious or economic. As such, we often agree to disagree. Thirdly, the shortage of dedicated volunteer sports leaders. There are fewer volunteers, especially the younger ones, coming forward to stand for elections as office bearers at all levels. From my experience, there are four types of volunteers in sports. The first are those with ideas and passion and always propose and implement viable and good programmes. The second are those with not so much ideas or creativity, but still are passionate. The third are those who holds posts for the sake of holding posts and will always criticise any programme and do nothing to implement them. The fourth are those who propose nothing, say nothing and do nothing. It is the first type of sports leaders we are lacking very much today. Q: Do you have any suggestion to improve Malaysian sport? A: OCM have not really initiated or implemented any new ideas or concepts on the issue of funding. OCM are sitting on a property worth over RM50 million. With the MRT station being constructed in front of Wisma OCM, its value will increase. What are we doing about it? Nothing! I have suggested that OCM take a loan of RM25 million and invest the money in 10 shop houses and assign them to 10 NSAs. The NSAs can then rent out the shop lots and pay the OCM. Unfortunately, OCM are just not interested. Sadly, the OCM executive board is just interested in petty matters, such as where and when the delegates are to attend meetings; where to get the Olympic Games tickets and souvenir watches; and OCM having their annual dinner at a 5-star hotel and not Wisma OCM. We should be good in follow-up work as well. Usually, after OCM have submitted the proposals and have had a meeting with the Youth and Sports Minister, we all come out feeling very good and happy. But six months later, everything is forgotten because nothing has moved even an inch. Q: Any last thoughts Datuk? A: Recently, there was a massive cut — by 80% — in Greece's sports allocation. Only salaries for staff at the Ministry of Sport and Hellenic Olympic Committe (HOC) were preserved. I'm worried that if sport becomes over dependent on salaried staff and not on volunteers, a similar situation could occur in Malaysia should there be an economic downturn in the future. This is the reason why OCM and the NSAs have to change and identify new and more innovative ways of raising funds. OCM and the NSAs need more and better quality volunteer sports officials. Those who are prepared to contribute their time and their brains for the development of sports. We don't require sports officials with big egos who don't have any ideas or vision for the future. Related Stories: |
| Some other challenges highlighted by Kok Chi Posted: 24 Nov 2012 03:07 PM PST 1. The 1997 Sports Development Act should be amended. 2. The transformation of Malaysian sports into an industry has not been achieved despite all the hype. RM6 million was spent on a study by the University of Stirling but only one report has come out of it. 3. The sports development model of Malaysia has not changed very much since the 1950s. The NSAs are established under the state-federal system and the State Sports Associations (SSA) have become very weak as a result of too strong a centralised role of the Federal Government. Most SSAs are no longer motivated to develop their athletes because of lack of funds and ownership of the athletes they train. 4. It is wrong for the Sports Commissioner's office to impose on NSAs to form District Sports Associations. This would lead to elections of office bearers at three levels instead of the existing two. Finally, the elected office bearers would be the same people who will now hold office at district, state and national levels. 5. Unlike in the past, office bearers are focusing more on minor matters, such as overseas trips, allowances etc, than sports development. 6. Lack of development by NSAs. The NSAs are the roots of the big tree called OCM. If the roots die, the tree will also die. Many of the office bearers do not seem to understand this. 7. Too many Games. OCM participated in only four multi-sports events — the Olympic, Asian, Commonwealth and SEA Games — in the past. Today, OCM are involved in 12 events every four years, with the addition of at least five Youth Games and the Asian Indoor Games, the Asian Beach Games and the Islamic Solidarity Games. Imagine the money spent. 8. The NSC Act is being amended to include provisions for them to solicit and source sponsors from private firms and GLCs. This would be a big threat to OCM and the NSAs. Unfortunately, no one seems to be worried. 9. Lack of communication between NSC and OCM. While OCM are represented in the executive board and council and all our plans are discussed in a transparent manner, the same cannot be said of NSC. Although OCM have representatives in the NSC management board, nothing is reported to OCM. 10. OCM's lack of a role in Sukma (Malaysian Games). OCM established Sukma in 1986 and in 1988, it was changed to athletes under-21 years. However, since NSC took over in 1990, OCM's role has been reduced to just being the technical organisers. Related Stories: |
| Chong Wei beats Kenichi to book a spot in Hong Kong Open final Posted: 24 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei continued his red-hot form in Kowloon as he beat Japan's Kenichi Tago to book his place in the men's singles final of the Hong Kong Open. The top seed easily won 21-19, 21-15 in 45 minutes to set up a clash with world No. 2 and second seed Chen Long of China who beat Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto 21-18, 21-10 in the other semi-final. This marks Chong Wei's fifth appearance in a Super Series final this season. And after scoring wins at the Denmark Open, Japan Open, Malaysia Open and Korea Open, a win in Hong Kong will crown him king of the Super Series. But national singles coach Rashid Sidek chose to play down Chong Wei's chances against Chen Long. Rashid said Chong Wei faces a difficult task against his younger rival. "He had a tough first game against Kenichi but managed to turn the tie around by increasing the pace and utilising his smashes. He didn't have much problem in the second game and controlled it till the end," said Rashid in a telephone interview from Hong Kong. "Chong Wei is a little under-prepared, with his wedding and all. I think it's going to be a very tough match which could go either way," he cautioned. World No. 2 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong made short work of Taiwan's Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin to book their place in the men's doubles final. Kien Keat-Boon Heong took just 37 minutes to win 22-20, 21-13 and will face their London Olympics conquerors Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, who beat compatriots Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan 18-21, 21-17, 21-16. This will be the Malaysian pair's third appearance in a Super Series final after the Denmark Open and Japan Open and national doubles coach Tan Kim Her hopes the duo will end their long title drought with victory today. But it is not going to easy as Cai-Fu hold a 10-4 win record against the Malaysians. "This is their third Super Series final since the Olympics. I hope they win and prove that they are still a formidable pair," said Kim Her. In the mixed doubles, top Malaysian pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying failed to make the final, falling to China's top seeds Xu Chen-Ma Jin 16-21, 18-21 in a late match yesterday. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan