Religion is not sporting

“I do not play golf, it is just that I was asked to be president. As the chairman of the state Islamic action committee, I cannot be there (in the club’s committee).” - Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar and president of the Seremban International Golf Club (SIGC), Aminuddin Harun

This statement is a reflection of why sports in this country is in the doldrums. It also is a microcosm of the system of political, and sometimes religious, patronage which has become embedded in all facets of our society.

In the first place, no one wanted Aminuddin to be there. For more than 20 years, members had been electing their own president and management committee to manage the club and its affairs. Then came the changes.

In its zeal to exercise “control” over everything and anything, the state government, which owned the land, decreed that it should be the regulator, controller, watchdog of the club’s affairs and, perhaps by extension, the judge of public morals.

Under veiled threats that the lease of the land could be revoked, the members voted to change the club's constitution in 1994 to read: “The President shall be the person holding the office of the Mentri Besar of Negri Sembilan.”

The club president was also given the powers to appoint the captain, the secretary and the treasurer. The state secretary, by virtue of his government position, became the deputy president.

The president also appointed five of the 10 committee members. To strengthen state control, the state financial officer, the director of the Lands and Mines Department and the director of the Public Works Department were appointed ex-officio members.

Thereafter, the members elected two vice-presidents and five committee members, but they were outnumbered in decision-making by the sheer force of the majority – the appointed officials.

It must be noted that originally, the club was bequeathed with land in the 1970s for three nine-hole courses. Only two were developed, and in 2004, the club “surrendered” land (measuring about 20 hectares) meant for the third nine for a paltry sum of RM500,000 in compensation. No guesses as who the land was transferred to!

This “control” is not unique to SIGC. Other clubs and associations have been “taken over” by wannabe politicians who use sports as a springboard for their political careers, and disgraced and unwanted politicians who use sports as a vehicle to make a comeback or stay in the limelight.

The argument for politicians to be involved in organisations is that they wield influence, open doors and in most cases, raise funds. But sports is not necessarily on their agenda. Foremost on their minds is their survival in politics – not doing good for the club or associations.

But politicians come with baggage – their religious beliefs, sordid past, their sometimes not-so-good values and personal interests.

The recent furore and uproar over the sale of liquor at the Seremban International Golf Club (SIGC) further drove home the message that religion and religious belief cannot be segregated from our daily lives. In every sport and every move, if not by decree, by application of personal beliefs, religion creeps into the system.

Even journalists get sucked into the system. At a press conference on the Volvo Masters many years ago, two journalists questioned the tournament director on these lines: “Why is this tournament held during the fasting month? It means Muslim caddies are being deprived of their income.”

Little did the duo realise that the golf calendar is fixed well in advance (in some cases two years ahead) and the available slots are allocated so that there is no clash of events.

Even sports attire has not been left alone by religious zealots and their bigotry. Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (above), 21, who won six medals in 2015 SEA Games, was slammed by some users on Facebook for wearing a leotard that revealed the shape of her aurat (genitalia and other areas of the body required by Islam to be covered).

Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria supported critics and suggested gymnastics was not an appropriate sport for Muslim women.

“If Muslim women want to participate in gymnastics, they have to find outfits which cover the ‘aurat’ and this, in turn, might not be suitable for the sport,” Harussani was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.

He also said Muslim footballers should wear shorts that covered their knees in accordance with the strictures on “aurat”

So, can we keep religion and beliefs out of sports? While thousands of Facebook users supported Farah Ann, the self-appointed guardians of public morals had their day and still continue with their blinkered views.

The Sports Commissioner, the National Sports Council and the Sports Ministry have been oblivious to the issue of religion sneaking into sports. The silence of the politicians is understandable, but what about the guardians of sports? Their silence has been deafening, allowing a few bird-brained people to impose their unacceptable values on sportsmen and sportswomen.

When will it stop and who is going to put an end to all this gobbledygook and baloney?

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R. NADESWARAN hopes a wave of change will take place in the sports arena in tandem with New Malaysia. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com - Mkini