Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Two days ago, The Sun said...

Let’s have ALL the answers

WHILE prudent taxpayers rejoice over the fact that their RM490 million will be spent on more beneficial projects than a forward base in London for national athletes, it is too soon to pop the champagne.

Many questions abound as to why the government spearheaded by the previous administration of the Youth and Sports Ministry as well as the cabinet committee on sports development was gung-ho to proceed with an expensive project, which was doomed from the word go. The East Herts Council, from the outset had maintained that it would not approve transforming the heritage-listed Tun Abdul Razak Rubber Research Centre in Brickendonbury which sits on a green belt into a high performance training centre for Malaysian sportsmen who are competing in Europe.

Unlike some individuals in our country, the British authorities pride themselves in doing things by the book, without fear or favour – the kau tim culture being as alien a term to them as a game of sepak takraw.

In spite of the discouraging forecast, the Malaysian government decided to go ahead to woo the English, spending in excess of RM2 million on consultants, architects, travel and accommodation expenses for Malaysian agents and representatives as well as a PR exercise called "the Olympics comes to Hertfordshire" – piggy-back riding on the hype over the 2012 Games in London.

The persistence of then Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in pushing the project in spite of the protest by Malaysians and documented negative remarks over the project by city council officials who had the final say, gives one the impression that the wishes of the public are never a primary concern for our decision-makers; while at the same time, wanting to exert control over something that is beyond their power.

Now that good sense has finally prevailed with the project being buried for good, thanks in no small part to Azalina’s successor Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob who had convinced the government not to throw any more good money on a project that was doomed to failure, it is imperative for those whose bright idea it was to come up with this proposal in the first place to come clean with the amount spent so far (click here for related article).

Ismail had given his undertaking that these figures will be revealed. But that is not enough. Those working on the project must be put on the stand and give cogent answers to the following questions: why they pursued the project despite its unpopularity and in the midst of the country’s waning fiscal strength; who are the rent-seekers and agents who benefited; what were the criteria of their appointments as well as that of those on the working committee – many of whom are businessmen without any affiliation to or experience in sports management and competition; why were squash and junior football teams who were sent there made to say that the facilities "were great" when in fact there were none, while they stayed at a hotel 20 minutes away.

These questions, apart from a detailed account on monies spent, are pertinent and must be addressed accordingly if the government, which has just been returned to power on a smaller mandate wants to make good on its promise of prudence, accountability and transparency. To show it is serious, it must be forthcoming with its responses, and yes, heads must roll.


Updated: 11:23AM Mon, 14 Apr 2008

http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=21459

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rizal,
Do you think this BN people are gonna get their own kind? Wake up lah brother. The new minister has to please the public. Maybe even ordered to do so, now that Umno is so weak. But he is definitely not goonna hang Azalina just to satisfy your thirst for blood. We all know that as far as people like Azalina is concerned, the public opinion does not matter. After all, not all of us are responsible for her win. She is the only one who is, with ehr million to give away to secure that 'uncontested' record. So what is the public's hard-earned tax paying money is spent for such things. It only gives her a great excuse to go holiday in London with g/f and cronies, kan?

I never understood the reasoning behind such stupid centre anyway. My friend has this 13 year old son who is now among Asia's top tennis players and they never can get ANY assistance from the Government. Parents are almost going broke giving the boy good training and such but does the Government care. Nanti bila dah jadi macam Nicol David baru lah Government nak share limelight. I mean this boy's parents take care of him like real man...jaga even his daily food intake, manage his time and all. The boy does well academically and also in the courts. But when he was asked to join MSSM or soemthing and he had to stay in a camp, officials there gave him nasi with sambal and such. Budak ni dah dijaga makan dia so that his training is not disturbed in any way. Bila the parents objected to the food, they said the boy and hisparents are being foolish and unsporting seeing hwo the other kids also makan the food beign catered.

Now we know that food is a great part of the training, and this boy's parents have been taking care of every aspect of his traning from the time he was 5 years old. Wgo the hell do the officials think they are? We know the kidnfo stories behind this kind of incidents kan? The food money goes elsewhere while the athletes get crap for lunch and dinner, not good for their sports training and etc.

No lah, she was never interested in promoting and bettering sports in the country. She was only interested in goign for big events like F1, launch of luxury watches where she gets one or more for free.

Now I want to see if this minister is any different. Somehow I dont think so....sad lah...

-Jad-

epain said...

wat a good story of tennis...n that's just another "old" and same story of sport in malaysia...

n don't wonder why our sports quality is still in the same circle...

we blame here, blame there...critics here n there....but where'e the result?....none...

we have best facilities, but do we have world class athletes?...we have F1 track...but do we have our own racer who compete in the F1?....

question of subsidi and bantuan...still, "old" and same story...interestingly, if you notice, those stories happened in past few years...to be precise after azalina appointed as sport minister....n to make matter worse, she even came out with idea of HPTC, women sport, community sport...

wat a waste....

Anonymous said...

Bro,
Like i mentioned before, you buddy from BH or HM should go and get an answer from Azalina. How come she's so quiet la??
For sure she's got a 'cut' from this doomed HPTC project. Heck, even staff from ISN don't support it cos they know it's ridiculous. And you wonder why MSN is broke?? All the money has gone to pay for all these 'fees'...ACA should investigate this fiasco..