investement or sheer waste? - Part 1
WILL RM490 million be spent after all?
This was the main issue boggling the minds of many at the National Sports Council (NSC) earlier this evening (4.00pm) as the council’s director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz spoke to the press with regards to the issue.
And many were surprised with the outcome- Ramlan was quoted saying, “No where was there a statement issued by any authority with regards of the total amount set to be spent on a High Performace Athlete Centre in Hertfordshire, England”.
“Personally, it would be ridiculous to spend so much,” added Ramlan, brother of Malaysian Idol critical judge Roslan Aziz.
Let us rewind for better clarification. Democratic Action Party (DAP) main man Lim Kit Siang questioned Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman on the supposed RM490 million which her ministry is set to splurge on a centre based miles away. Kit Siang obtained his information based on the Singapore Straits Times (which seems to know more about Malaysia then the Malaysian Press…hmm..Siti’s wedding, bullet train by YTL, Mahathir’s bout…etc).
In Azalina's reply statement in Parliament, she denied any form of amount being used, stating the whole idea is in the midst of discussion. Later in another meet the media session, Azalina was quoted saying; “If RM490 million were to be used within the span of 10 years….”, an indication that not all the almost half a billion Ringgit will be used in one go. However, this was misinterpreted by the print media. This brought about to many parties questioning the governments’ decision in spending ‘too much’ on something not even located in the country.
This raised more eyebrows when earlier this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak, who is in Bangkok, said the government will not back down from this idea.
Nevertheless, during this conference at NSC, Ramlan mentioned no budget has been projected with regards to the centre thus far. This is due to the fact the centre will actually be housed in the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre, which is said to be currently owned by the ‘Lembaga Getah Malaysia’. The land was bought by the Malaysian government in 1971 for the purpose of rubber research.
Apparently, it is said there is a clause embedded in the contract between the Malaysian government and the current owners that the land will not be used for any other purposes with the exception of research. Also, it is up to the members of the board to decide and not for Lembaga Getah’s director general to allow the NSC to house their athletes.
However, Ramlan was bullish in acquiring the agreement from the current land owners, saying Lembaga Getah Malaysia is a government controlled unit. It must be agreed Ramlan’s detailed explanation with regards to the centre- which already has an under utilised football field, a cricket oval and reputable squash and badminton halls within the area- made a whole lot of sense. Also, the local county council are strict in their building regulations and even if NSC wanted to build another KLCC, it will be shot down. The current buildings have been classified as Class 2 Heritage structure by the council and thus cannot be removed or demolished.
What many failed to realised is that millions can be saved on transportation costs, hiring of coaches (don’t have to worry about accommodation and transport claims) and most importantly the time factor.
But why London? Squash queen Nicol Ann David is based in Amsterdam, cyclist Josiah Ng in the USA and national runner Norsheela Khalid is currently in Germany. Ramlan said it’s not all about honing the skills but also seen as a ‘forward base’ for the athletes.
“If they have two major competitions in Europe, we can save on flight tickets if they have a transit point in that continent. Furthermore, these athletes can learn a sense of responsibility instead of the cully molly attitude seen here,” Ramlan added.
This is certainly a plus point. Also the fact that not much will be spent on foreign expertise and locals can be sent there to further their skills- as coaches or researches. And since Ramlan has given his word of not depriving the grassroots at the expense of the setting up of this centre, then the Malaysian public have little to worry.
In fact, a pilot phase has already begun last month as the back up squash side was sent there. Snooker junior Moh Keen Hoo will be one of the many who would be happy with the setting up there as his wish to play in the English professional circuit could once again be a reality (his earlier stint didn’t materialise due to the short time frame and expense borne by the NSC). All said and done, the idea seems noble, but should not be done at the expense of the local athletes and the rakyat’s money. And the NSC ought to come up with better objectives to further calm the people’s fears on the whole project.
It would be years from now but there is a possibility for Malaysian athletes to make London as a ‘home away from home’.
p/s: Kudos to Chris Sayer from Traxx FM for his gentlemanly approach during the press conference. Sayer certainly put most reporters to shame. And one wonders what the press might have to say in tomorrow's papers. RTM1 played it passive with TV3 taking an opposite approach. Hmmm....
-The Man Who Sold The World-
This was the main issue boggling the minds of many at the National Sports Council (NSC) earlier this evening (4.00pm) as the council’s director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz spoke to the press with regards to the issue.
And many were surprised with the outcome- Ramlan was quoted saying, “No where was there a statement issued by any authority with regards of the total amount set to be spent on a High Performace Athlete Centre in Hertfordshire, England”.
“Personally, it would be ridiculous to spend so much,” added Ramlan, brother of Malaysian Idol critical judge Roslan Aziz.
Let us rewind for better clarification. Democratic Action Party (DAP) main man Lim Kit Siang questioned Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman on the supposed RM490 million which her ministry is set to splurge on a centre based miles away. Kit Siang obtained his information based on the Singapore Straits Times (which seems to know more about Malaysia then the Malaysian Press…hmm..Siti’s wedding, bullet train by YTL, Mahathir’s bout…etc).
In Azalina's reply statement in Parliament, she denied any form of amount being used, stating the whole idea is in the midst of discussion. Later in another meet the media session, Azalina was quoted saying; “If RM490 million were to be used within the span of 10 years….”, an indication that not all the almost half a billion Ringgit will be used in one go. However, this was misinterpreted by the print media. This brought about to many parties questioning the governments’ decision in spending ‘too much’ on something not even located in the country.
This raised more eyebrows when earlier this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak, who is in Bangkok, said the government will not back down from this idea.
Nevertheless, during this conference at NSC, Ramlan mentioned no budget has been projected with regards to the centre thus far. This is due to the fact the centre will actually be housed in the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre, which is said to be currently owned by the ‘Lembaga Getah Malaysia’. The land was bought by the Malaysian government in 1971 for the purpose of rubber research.
Apparently, it is said there is a clause embedded in the contract between the Malaysian government and the current owners that the land will not be used for any other purposes with the exception of research. Also, it is up to the members of the board to decide and not for Lembaga Getah’s director general to allow the NSC to house their athletes.
However, Ramlan was bullish in acquiring the agreement from the current land owners, saying Lembaga Getah Malaysia is a government controlled unit. It must be agreed Ramlan’s detailed explanation with regards to the centre- which already has an under utilised football field, a cricket oval and reputable squash and badminton halls within the area- made a whole lot of sense. Also, the local county council are strict in their building regulations and even if NSC wanted to build another KLCC, it will be shot down. The current buildings have been classified as Class 2 Heritage structure by the council and thus cannot be removed or demolished.
What many failed to realised is that millions can be saved on transportation costs, hiring of coaches (don’t have to worry about accommodation and transport claims) and most importantly the time factor.
But why London? Squash queen Nicol Ann David is based in Amsterdam, cyclist Josiah Ng in the USA and national runner Norsheela Khalid is currently in Germany. Ramlan said it’s not all about honing the skills but also seen as a ‘forward base’ for the athletes.
“If they have two major competitions in Europe, we can save on flight tickets if they have a transit point in that continent. Furthermore, these athletes can learn a sense of responsibility instead of the cully molly attitude seen here,” Ramlan added.
This is certainly a plus point. Also the fact that not much will be spent on foreign expertise and locals can be sent there to further their skills- as coaches or researches. And since Ramlan has given his word of not depriving the grassroots at the expense of the setting up of this centre, then the Malaysian public have little to worry.
In fact, a pilot phase has already begun last month as the back up squash side was sent there. Snooker junior Moh Keen Hoo will be one of the many who would be happy with the setting up there as his wish to play in the English professional circuit could once again be a reality (his earlier stint didn’t materialise due to the short time frame and expense borne by the NSC). All said and done, the idea seems noble, but should not be done at the expense of the local athletes and the rakyat’s money. And the NSC ought to come up with better objectives to further calm the people’s fears on the whole project.
It would be years from now but there is a possibility for Malaysian athletes to make London as a ‘home away from home’.
p/s: Kudos to Chris Sayer from Traxx FM for his gentlemanly approach during the press conference. Sayer certainly put most reporters to shame. And one wonders what the press might have to say in tomorrow's papers. RTM1 played it passive with TV3 taking an opposite approach. Hmmm....
-The Man Who Sold The World-
posted by pollyneedsacracker at 12:08 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home