The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Right time for new man at helm of FAM Posted: 22 May 2014 03:59 PM PDT
What do Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Raja Ahmad Zainuddin and the late Datuk Ahmad Basri Akil have in common? They have all been let down, in one form or another, by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) that they attempted to rejuvenate. Ahmad Basri was the national team manager when Malaysia competed in and won the SEA Games Gold Medal for football in 1989. A true gentleman with a great understanding of the game, both on and off the pitch, Ahmad Basri was always years ahead in football innovation. And therein lies the problem. Being "too" progressive means waiting for no one, attempting to innovate instead of replicate. Unfortunately, FAM has never had a clear vision in the future of Malaysian football, thus shackling any individual whose progressive mind and attitude is deemed a threat. The same scenario was repeated with Raja Ahmad. He was simply someone who spoke his mind on the state of affairs in Malaysian football. Then came the football revolution in Kelantan. Annuar Musa's innovative thinking, coupled with business acumen off the pitch, provided the springboard for Kelantan's success on the pitch. That is, until he realised that his horizons and dreams were being stifled by the custodians of Malaysian football. Like in Raja Ahmad's case, speak your mind and the Football Association drops on you like a durian! Today, however, there stands an individual who can, and will, reshape Malaysian football for years to come, if given the chance. The Crown Prince of Johor,, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has given rise to a new force in local football. With the Southern Tigers of Johor Darul Takzim, he has transformed Johor football in the two years he has been involved with the state FA, and uniting the people of Johor while he is at it. TMJ, as Tunku Ismail is affectionately known, is determined to keep the youths in the state occupied through healthy means and off the streets, and will take winning trophies as consolation to the social and cultural development he intends to nurture. For that, he has the heartfelt gratitude of this former state footballer from Kluang, and who bears witness to the positive direction that football is heading in Johor. His priorities are not mired in the pursuit of fame and wealth. Besides, TMJ's attempts at unifying his state's foundations through sports is a breath of fresh air, especially when there are factions and groups intent on causing racial rifts in our beautiful multicultural country. I have been told that the grassroots, youth and amateur football development programmes will take off in stages state-wide after the holy month of Ramadan. Every district will be scoured, talent and coaching education nurtured. As a football fan, TMJ now stands on the threshold of resurrecting Malaysian football on a larger scale. He is spearheading an attempt to bring Malaysia into the upper echelons of Asian football. We have been mired in the "Third Division of Asian Football" not for a lack of passion, drive or intelligence but unfortunately due to a lackadaisical and suppressive footballing governing system. The time has come for someone brave enough to take on the mantle of developing and progressing football in Malaysia, and TMJ is the ideal candidate. His willingness to appear on live television has also displayed one quality that has been severely lacking in Malaysian football administration for decades; that is, being open to dialogue with the people. We have sorely missed such a direct line of communication in Malaysian football, especially when answers were much needed over the years from the FAM leadership. .A sportsman by his own right (polo, in this case), Tunku Ismail knows that one is responsible for their own actions, and change can only come from individuals willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for progress... Class! – May 23, 2014. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider | |
| Mary says no ‘Islam-bashing’ in churches Posted: 22 May 2014 03:55 PM PDT
A few days ago, I received a Facebook message from an old university friend of mine, Mary Michael, who is from Sarawak. We were studying in UiTM, Shah Alam, together. She had a big concern and she needed my help to address this concern. It was regarding the most-annoying Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and an article he had recently wrote. The article, which was carried in Sinar Harian, defended the criticism that was thrown towards a seminar about combating Christianisation in Malaysia, held at UiTM. Many accused the seminar, organised by the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM, Warisan Ibnu Aaby and the Selangor Islamic Council, of being "Christian-bashing". Tee went on to say that it wasn't "Christian-bashing" and that it was a legitimate concern of Muslims that Christians in the country were out to convert Muslims. He reminded readers that it was a crime to spread religious teachings to Muslims in Malaysia other than that of Islam. Tee also added that whatever that was said in the seminar was not as bad as anything that was said in churches, implying that "Islam-bashing" was going on among Christians. The only reason why no fuss is made about "Islam-bashing" in churches because no one knows about it and Tee suggests that Muslims "infiltrate" churches to find out for themselves. Now back to the concern of my old Sabahan friend from UiTM, Mary Michael. Here is what her message to me read: "pls b**ch slap this guy again will u zan azlee... in my yrs going to church never ever the priest or the church bashing other religions." Firstly, I would like to make it clear that I have never b**ch slapped Ridhuan Tee. I would never resort to violence! I'm sure she was referring to my articles criticising Tee. Secondly, Mary, I have known you for many years and when you say that in the many years that you have been to church and never witnessed any "religious-bashing", I believe you. As a Malaysian, I trust a fellow Malaysian even though she is of another religion. Unfortunately, for reasons I can't explain, I don't trust Tee. Thirdly, Mary, my advice is for you (and all of us) is to just ignore what Tee says and writes in his columns. We all know what he says is just nonsensical animal faeces anyway. So there really is no point in us getting so worked up over it. I know it isn't easy because Tee has his words spread by the mass media and many people are exposed to it. Out of all the people who read his writings, some would actually be fooled into thinking that what he says is true. But I'm not too worried, to tell you the truth. Have faith in Malaysians. If Mary and I are sane enough to know that Tee is an annoying mosquito, I'm sure Malaysians will know this too. And for those who don't, and still think, that what Tee says is gospel (see what I just did there?), well, they're in the minority. With a little bit of fogging, they will die off. So hang in there, Mary. Don't get too stressed out. You and I (and many other Malaysians) are all on the same page, that Ridhuan Tee is just not worth stressing about anymore. – May 23, 2014. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider. |
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