The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Taking the Malaysian league by storm Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:40 PM PST
One more weekend and then there is a welcome international break for what has been a fast and furious start to the new Malaysian football season. This season certainly looks exciting and competitive; not since yours truly was winning matches in style has a season in Malaysian football felt this enticing to follow. The football has been fast paced, albeit still sloppy at the best of times, but to have a shining light like Pablo Aimar certainly lends credibility to a nation that has more often than not allowed football to be run by suits without a clue about the game. The excitement that has surged through my home state of Johor is down to our Crown Prince having the know–how and fiery passion for the game. But as His Highness Tunku Mahkota Johor always reminds and reiterates, the game of football first and foremost is an effective social mechanism for bringing communities and groups of people together. Keeping the youth of today involved and fulfilled through sport is an added caveat; then, and only then, is it about winning trophies. A dream was formulated, and now TMJ wants to fulfill his vision. The introduction of Pablo Aimar, a genuine superstar of the game, is quite possibly the best thing to happen to Malaysian football. Our country has certainly been put on the map as a nation which is finally realising that to improve their stature in the international football scene, the local football league has to improve in quality and attraction; attracting a footballer who has won league titles in three different national leagues (Argentina, Spain and Portugal) as well as achieving success with Argentina as a FIFA U-20 World Cup winner is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. And how Aimar has enchanted us with moments of quality and magic! It is a pleasure to be on television as Astro Arena showcases moments of pure Pablo. Television plays a major role in promoting a relatively fledging league into further social prominence, and Astro Arena should be commended for this brave adventure especially when Malaysian football was sinking faster then the Titanic mere seasons ago. The emergence of some very talented young local players too has been a bonus. It has been enthralling to watch Hafiz Kamal take the game by the reins as he commands Pahang like no other. The marauding Mahali Jasuli quite possibly has created the most goalscoring chances in the league, and he plays at rightback! The playmaking of Badrol Bakhtiar for Kedah in the second tier Premier League too has been a feature, though Kedah fans hardly need a reminder of his quality. Foreign imports, Pablo Aimar aside, have been impressive as well. 29–year–old Australian Mario Karlovic has slotted in comfortably alongside Ismail Faruqi for Terengganu in central midfield while Juninho is clearly going to take Selangor places. The unbelievable engine of Spanish central midfielder Jose Gomez has been a feature too, his ability to distribute the ball being an added bonus to his tireless work in attack and defense. And the fans, inspired by JDT's passionate and vociferous rhythmic vocals, have sparked further synchronised followings up and down the country. The sheer intensity of the fans in stadiums all around the country harkens back to my days as a player when the Merdeka Stadium was always rocking, both at the domestic and international level. The only blot is a little bunch of idiots trying to ruin all the good work and effort being put into place for a perfect environment for football fans. Football hooligans, go away, we don't need you! Passion is important, but when a small group of fans threaten the safety of other spectators, they not only make a mockery of themselves with their inability to keep their emotions in check; fans like these act as a deterrent to other Malaysians whose only interest is to enjoy an entertaining game of football in person. The big match of the weekend is at Larkin Stadium, Johor Baru, where Selangor, as table toppers, come to strut their stuff. They rightly deserve their place on top of the pile, but will face a severe test of their credentials as Johor Darul Takzim 1 look to start stretching their legs and attempt to begin their ascent up the table. The East Coast derby of Pahang versus Terengganu will provide sparks of its own, a match never lacking in atmosphere and competitiveness. The midfield battle promises to be one of the highlights of the season, as Hafiz Kamal looks to make his mark on what is sure to be a hotly-contested tie. – February 15, 2014. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider. | |
| Posted: 14 Feb 2014 03:44 PM PST
Sejak meninggalkan bumi Iran pada 1978, saya tidak pernah kembali ke sana lagi walaupun Iran adalah negara luar kedua masa paling panjang saya habiskan untuk menetap, selepas Mesir. Di Mesir, saya tinggal hampir 7 tahun di sana kerana menuntut ilmu di Al-Azhar tetapi saya berpeluang beberapa kali menziarahi semula bumi anbiya tersebut. Bagi Iran, inilah pertama kali saya menziarahinya semula setelah menetap di sana dari 1975-1978. Ayah saya waktu itu bertugas atas misi negara sebagai Duta Besar di sana dan saya mengikutinya pada umur 11 tahun. Tersungkurnya Shah Iran waktu itu bukan Iran sekarang waimma namanya pun sudah menjadi Islamic Republic of Iran dan bukan lagi semasa saya di sana sebagai The Royal Kingdom of Iran. Iran sebelum revolusi terkenal dengan rajanya yang menggelar dirinya sebagai Shahanshah Aryamer yang membawa konotasi Raja kepada segala Raja Aryan sebagai kebanggaan bahawa baginda adalah daripada keturunan mulia. Malangnya kebongkakan Shah Iran terungkai apabila ia dibuang oleh rakyatnya sendiri dalam satu revolusi terhebat abad ke-20 yang dikenali sebagai The Islamic Revolution of Iran pada 1979. Post revolusi Keseluruhan perjalanan sejarah Iran berubah dan Iran menjadi satu-satunya negara Islam yang berani mencabar hegemoni kuasa besar Amerika dan sekutunya malah tersenarai salah satu daripada 3 negara dalam senarai Amerika sebagai negara 'bahaya' selain Korea Utara dan Cuba. Keberanian Iran mempertahankan program nuklearnya dibayar dengan harga yang mahal apabila dikenakan sekatan ekonomi sejak 1990-an walaupun hingga ke tahap ini Iran masih lagi bertahan dan terpaksa bergantung kepada sumber utamanya daripada minyak melalui pasaran gelap yang tinggi permintaannya. Khomeini Aayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini adalah figura yang mengubah persepsi dunia terhadap kemampuan Islam muncul sebagai kuasa dunia yang disegani dalam era moden ini. Berbekalkan semangat revolusi dan ucapannya mampu menggoncang jiwa yang mahukan kebebasan daripada diktator Shah dan renungan matanya tajam menggambarkan keazaman yang tidak mungkin diruntuhkan, Khomeini mencipta sejarah Iran yang baru. Seorang ulama Syiah yang mendapat gelaran Ayatollah hanya perlu berucap dari rumah kecilnya di Perancis sebagai orang buangan dan disebarkan ucapannya melalui kaset sehingga tiada isi rumah yang tidak mendengar ucapannya melainkan semuanya terkesan dan bangkit kemudian untuk menggulingkan diktatator Shah. Khomeini juga membawa Iran mempertahankan sempadannya dengan Iraq sehingga tercetus perang Iran -Iraq dekad 1980-an. Khomeini mempertahankan golongan pelajar yang menawan premis Kedutaan Amerika yang anti-Iran berpanjangan sehingga beberapa bulan. Khomeini juga mengeksport Revolusi Islamnya ke seluruh dunia Islam sehingga musim haji menjadi gelanggang mesejnya dalam menentang 'Mustakbirin Amerika". Kini tokoh agung revolusi Islam Iran terus menjadi ikon kebangkitan dan diabadikan nama lapangan terbang yang dulunya dikenali sebagai Mehrabad kepada Imam Khomeini International Airport. Politik Iran Asif Bayyat seorang ahli akademik beketurunan Iran yang kini berada di Amerika membuat kajian secara konseptual tentang suasana politik Iran pasca revolusi pada 1996. Antara dapatan awalnya beliau merumuskan bahawa zaman mengekalkan momentum revolusi semakin perlahan dan tekanan kepada aspek realiti pemerintahan dan persoalan ekonomi menuntut ideals dan perlaksanaan dicerakinkan. Persoalan masa depan daripada sejarah kebangkitan dan persoalan demokrasi dan prinsip Islam seolah-olah perlu mendapat persepakatan termasuk hak kewarganegaraan dan hak asasi manusia. Beliau menamakan tesis beliau sebagai Post-Islamism yang kini diperluaskan perbahasannya kepada mengulas siri kebangkitan Arab spring yang dipelopori antara lainnya oleh kelompok Islamik. Daripada sudut Islam dan pemerintahan, Iran dianggap unik kerana merintis kebangkitan rakyat menentang diktator dan mengasaskan Islamic Republic pertama di dunia dalam kerangka negara bangsa. Iran menjadi tuan rumah Perjalanan saya kali ini mewakili Parlimen Malaysia ke konferensi Kesatuan Parlimen Organisasi Negara Islam (PUIC) yang dihoskan oleh Iran. Menarik kerana Iran adalah antara negara yang aktif mempromosikan Kesatuan Parlimen ini dan banyak menyuarakan isu semasa umat Islam melalui platform ini. Saya masih ingat ketika sidang di Palembang, Indonesia pada 2012, ucapan Speaker Dewan Iran mencetuskan kemarahan peserta negara-negara Teluk kerana Speaker An Nouri mengucapkan tahniah kepada kebangkitan Arab spring dan berbangga bahawa Iran memulakan sejak 1979 menggulingkan pemerintah beraja yang diktator. Ucapan itu amat pedih didengari oleh ahli delegasi Parlimen negara Teluk lalu mereka keluar dewan tanda boikot. Balik kampung Saya teruja untuk menghadiri konferensi ini di Tehran kerana sejak menjadi ahli parlimen pada 2008 saya dilantik oleh Speaker Parlimen Malaysia untuk menjadi Ahli Jawatankuasa ke persidangan ini. Selain mengharapkan dapat menjalankan tugas negara dan mengharumkan nama negara, saya ada misi lain yang saya tunggu selama ini iaitu menziarahi tempat yang saya pernah bermain, bersekolah dan membesar dari 1975-1978 di Iran. – 15 Februari, 2014. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider. |
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