One of the highlights of my regular forays into questioning how public funds were spent was having the microphone taken away from me because I was asking difficult questions.
At a packed media conference to announce the launch of the Champions Youth Cup in 2007, I posed a series of questions to the then youth and sports minister Azalina Othman Said to justify spending RM17 million on a football tournament that brought no benefits to the country or the development of sports.
When no plausible answers were provided, a PR man tapped me on the shoulder and took away the mic, after which the minister quipped: “If you don’t like our policies, stand for elections.”
Needless to say, the tournament was a flop but Jonathan Price, the UK-based promoter collected his money and laughed all the way to the bank.
The stench from the misuse of power and money in the past could be felt a mile away through “projects”.
Among them, was a grandiose plan to build a “forward training base” outside London on the site of the Tun Abdul Razak Rubber Research Centre in Brickendonbury.
Needless to say, the local council rejected the plans which were submitted, not because of the series of articles I wrote but because the site had been classified as “heritage”.
But that did not stop a senior official from threatening to prosecute my editor at that time, Ho Kay Tat, and me for “sabotage” – whatever that meant.
Then, there was the Women In Sports gala where RM8 million was spent, including bringing in dancers from Australia for the opening ceremony. Did it bring any tangible results? Did it enhance the performance of our women athletes? No. It was just another syiok sendiri (self-absorbed) exercise.
Then there was a veto exercised by the chief of the National Sports Council (NSC) over the decision by the minister to make public details of the RM20 million spent on the “Road to London” project in 2012.
It’s quite a lengthy list but suffice it to say that in 2018, then deputy youth and sports minister Steven Sim said the ministry was number eight out of 25 ministries in which corruption was a big problem, citing weaknesses in the procurement and payment processes.
The ranking was based on the MACC’s Public Service Corruption Ranking.
New broom sweeps
Some of these were highlighted in my report last week which prompted a response from the new Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
In a note, Yeoh said: “In my 100 days KPI, one of the things listed would be (that) all allocations sought must be published on the ministry’s website.”
It will begin with the national budget allocations for the ministry. Sports associations applying for funds, she said, must be subject to the same scrutiny too.
This means you and I can see for ourselves how the money allocated to the ministry is spent – a far contrast to past practices. Besides, the sports associations must account for the money they receive from the ministry.
These, added to the government’s order for all procurements to be obtained through open tender, will bring about some semblance of proper governance and administration.
This is good for a start and Yeoh said “we will get there”.
There is so little that can be done in 100 days, but as she gets on, there is much more to be done, including restricting tendering agents and suppliers.
Little Napoleons
All will not be hunky-dory with the implementation of these measures. There’s much more to be done and the most important of them will be to change the work culture.
Especially so in dealing with officials from sports bodies and athletes. In the past, some approaches had been rebuffed for reasons better known to the officials.
Of course, feuds between NSC officials and sports officials have to stop. Who could forget the battles between NSC chief Zulkeples Embong and the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Sieh Kok Chi?
It eventually spilt into the court where it became personal. Both men have passed away, God bless their souls, but we should never see a repeat of that.
It will be said we should not delve into the past but Yeoh, for her knowledge, can delve into the archives - which will present anecdotal accounts of the many spats.
Then there’s interference in the affairs of sports associations. Previously, the selection of some officials was decided by the NSC on the basis of “since we provide the funds, we have a right to choose”.
The best option is for the ministry to work in tandem with sports associations to bring about the desired results. In almost every government department, “Little Napoleons” operate and Yeoh will have to keep these personalities in check. Otherwise, sports and their development, are doomed. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN started his journalistic career as a sports reporter 50 years ago and despite switching to other areas, he continues to be a passionate and judicious observer of sports and related activities. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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