YAARE GUNDU MAMA - Part 5 Untold Stories

In simple English the title above translated means " who is this fat uncle".

That seems to be the question asked right from the corridors of power at the Jalil Hill to the wide spectrum of the hockey fraternity.

It is indeed baffling why this individual wields so much power when he is not an elected office bearer and not a paid employee of MHC.

He has been introduced as the Deputy CEO to the NSC Director General, as Admin Executive to staff of MHC and also as Executive Secretary to others.

But one thing is certain - he is a decision and executor of directives of the President.

Basically this individual has no locus standi when one examines the MHC Constitution yet he has made phone calls to some officials offering them Chairmanship or Membership of various Sub Committees when he obviously has no say in such matters.

Perhaps the biggest blunder was to an elder statesman in hockey who was offered the Fisciplinary Board Chairmanship when the constitution clearly spells out that any individual appointed must be in legal practice and has legal qualification.

While this individual may mean well by acting on orders of the President, there is an appointed CEO whose job is to administer MHC, unless he is merely a puppet in the system.

So it's best that Dundu Mama should take a step back or get into the system and vacate his state position if the federal position is what he seeks.

Let the Executive Board make impartial decisions, after discussions unlike being forced to accept decisions like the appointment of the CEO.

MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE - PART 4 UNTOLD STORIES

Change often is meant for the better. But the changes in MHC has shown a wider split in the hockey fraternity barely  three weeks after its AGM.

While there are bound to be disgruntled personalities amongst the losers, what is shocking is the reaction from some in what can be perceived as the winning camp.

Indeed four phone calls to four affiliates revealed that a plan is in the works to move a motion of no confidence against the newly elected President and the Deputy President 1.

This conspiracy deems from the fact that these affiliates are unhappy with the proceedings within MHC where the President and his trusted lieutenants seem to make unilateral decisions instead of transparency and fair play as so loudly provocated in the run up to elections.

The President is quoted in a leading Malay daily as claiming that MHC is one big happy family, a claim denied by the four affiliates who feel that those holding positions in state bodies should vacate their state seats as there is a conflict of interest.

An attempt by the henchman to send out Whatsapp image of a paper report stating MHC will pay bonus to the players on May 30 actually does more damage then good.

For MHC has used up the sponsors money of the MJHL instead of paying the subsidy to teams who participated in the tournament or the technical officials.

It's best to feed your family instead of claiming glory as many have their own families to care for.

As for the conflict of interest issue, it's a question of ethics and let's see if any of the nine in the Executive Board live to upholding ethics.

THE TIKAM GAME - PART 3 UNTOLD STORIES

One thing that I remember from my schooling days is the "tikan" game we used to make a beeline for during breaks and after school.

On the find sight it is nothing more then a game of chance and somehow it equates to how the MHC wants to determine their chairman of the various sub committees as provided for in their constitution.

It is vital that the right people be appointed for the correct committees and that is why there are four independent members position created so that it can be filled by those who can contribute effectively towards the progress and development of hockey.

But with the President having assumed the Chairmanship of the National Team Management and Finance Committees, that does not leave much for the others.

I was told that the President at the first Executive Board meeting had told the elected office bearers to send in their choices of committees via Whatsapp or SMS which set me thinking that such vital decision is being made akin to voting in the ever popular Akademi Fantasia.

So for those who might not comprehend the whole picture, let me walk you through the provision of sub committees in the MHC Constitution.

There are a total of 12 sub committees, excluding the three that come under judicial which are the Disciplinary, Appeals and Ethics Committee. The only committee not provided for in the constitution is the 1MAS Steering Committee.

So the 12 committees are as follows - Coaching, Competition, Development, Finance, High Performance, Indoor, Legal and Special Peojects, Marketing and Spinsorship, Media Public Relations, National Team Management, Umpuring and Medical Committee.

 

With the President having taken the Chairmanship of the Finance as well as the National Team Management, there are 10 more spots left.

The Umpuring, Mesical Committeees will go to appointed Chairmans as none are Doctors nor former internationals in the EB at present.

From what is learnt Dato Ow Soon Kooi will assume the Chairmanship of Coaching, Dato Radhakrishnan the Indoor so leaving it 6 more vacancies.

The Development Committee is one of the most sought as the Deputy President 1 as she wants to be addressed S. Shamala and Kedah HA President Satish Kumar both want the Committee.

Shamala who used to head the High Performance Committee and was a member of the Competitions Committee should really take the Competitions Committee as she is after all a so called senior person in the pre and post elections process.

With this two fighting it out, that leaves us with four more Committees and ironically Deputy President George Koshy who was the giant killer will be left with an insignificant committee.

Manjit Majid should get Legal and Special Projects in anticipation of a long dispute that will follow as I intend to take legal action for none payment of dues to me for work carried out in the Sultan Johor Cup last October.

There you have it as the pies and crumbs are distributed, fairly and justly using the Tikam Nethod.

PART 2 THE UNTOLD STORIES

Having had a positive feedback motivates me to reveal more on Malaysian Hockey as we try to reveal the web of deceit.

Next I want to raise a pertinent point, one that is on the lips of many but no one dares ask the question.

Why are officials from one state hockey association dominating Malaysian Hockey?

This is a question of ethics and conflict of interest.

Let's give a clear example how it was handled in the past, where principles meant a lot more then what is being practiced today.

In 1988 the late S. Satgunam had to relinquish his position as the NSHA secretary as he wanted to contest the MHF secretary position. And in 1993 a new MHF Executive Secretary in the likes of R. beelakandan was appointed to keep the post separate from the Hon. Secretary position.

Such were the separation of powers then in order to maintain transparency so that hockey was administrated justly and fairly.

What is happening today is a clear abuse of the process where some officials have conspired to run MHC like its a family owned business.

Those who are holding positions in the states should do the honourable thing - resign from either MHC or the state.

And those who have no locus standi should not be dishing out instructions or deciding matters for MHF as they were not duly elected nor appointed.

The funny thing is while change was the key were being bandied around prior to the MHC elections but change did happen but not for the better.

The acenario now is one of cronyism as MHC makes decisions outside the boardroom and at the only meeting of the executive board the appointment of the CEO was shoved upon them by so called Presidential powers.

Perhaps the President wants to share how he felt when the same word Presidential prerogative was used by the then FAM President to reject their candidate after the 2007 FAM elections.

Let's restore dignity to hockey, be transparent and not rule it as if it's your toy. Take two steps back into history to learn but when arrogance rules the day, power corrupts.

Or come join me in my four hour dialysis sessions for as my blood gets cleansed, maybe I can clean your thoughts for the betterment of hockey.

My dare remains - if you live the country over state then please relinquish your state position, a practice currently adopted only by KLHA.

THE UNTOLD STORIES

Having kept a low profile for the past few months, I am compelled to make a return to writing after looking at circumstances post MHC elections on May 13.

While some, like the axed Vice President took years to destroy the institution we call hockey, the current batch of officials have taken only a week to come up with mind boggling decisions that is leaving the hockey fraternity bewildered.

I am compelled to write my thoughts after some of my ardent followers prompted me through messages.

So Malaysian Hockey never ceases to amaze me, as over the years whatever good one hopes for never comes through as greedy, corrupt, self- cantered and power crazy people have laid siege to the sport that once operated from the homes of dedicated, passionate officials of the past.

Having grown up learning the ropes from greats such as S.Satgunam, MT Lingam, Balasubramaniam, C. Navaratnam, V. Sivapthasundram at state level and Dato G. Vijinathan, K. Indran, S. Perampalam, Tan Sri P. Alagendra, it sickens me to the core how fake some people who claim that they have interest of the sport actually violate the sport - sort of raping it for self satisfaction.

Over the next few days we shall dissect the decisions made by the new regime, reveal how a duly elected official has been left out of the decision making process, how an official who has manipulated the elections to thrust herselft into a powerful position, how hangerson are now kingmakers and how many are now the Devils Advocates.

Oh yes before I forget, I am undergoing dialysis three times a week having lost my kidneys five months ago. But the injustice in hockey has forced me to put aside my personal pain and grief so that the truth, no matter how bitter, must be told.

Watch this space and follow me on Twitter.

NO APRIal FOOLS JOKE

It was April Fools day when I sent current MHC Senior Vice President Prof S. Shamala a message.

I asked her if it was true she was going for one of the Deputy President positions in the forthcoming MHC elections on May 13.

And Shamala confirmed what had been speculation thus far, justifying that the decision of current Deputy Puan Sri Noora Ashikin not to seek election as the main factor.

"There is a vacancy and I am prepared to be a candidate so as to look into the affairs of women's hockey," said Shamala who seems to be on a purple patch of late.

She was appointed Deputy Chef De Mission of the Sea Games in January and in March was made full Professor at UPM and also a member of the FIH Appointments Committee.

But the question that begs to be answered is why the incumbent Puan Sri is stepping aside after waging a fight to ensure that the Deputy post is also reserved for a women?

What went wrong that Puan Sri has won the battle but gave up fighting the war.

Word has it that there was a fallout among the ladies as the initial decision was to abstain from the vote on the amendments to the constitution.

We shall unravel this mystery further including the possibility of a third candidate challenging for the Deputy position.

Watch this space....

TOO HARD TO COVER

The 24th edition of the Azlan Shah Cup gets underway in Ipoh from April 5-12.

But rather then provide information, the organisers have opted for a cold shoulder treatment to this website which has provided comprehensivecoverage over the past four years.

Request for information such as team lists and other tournament info has been ignored making it tough to get in touch with coaches to get their views on team chances.

Rather then fret over what is largely an incompetent organisation that runs plagiarised stories on their website, we will strive to do our best to provide coverage for the thousands of fans out there.

National associations and hockey writers can lift our stories but please credit accordingly so that those paid mega bucks will not lay claim that it was their effort.

So follow us at the website and Twitter to get the best coverage of the event.