happy 50th birthday Malaysia!

WE love you Malaysia!

Politics aside, you've been such a darling.

And celebrating 50 years of independance, you've come a long way.

From quiet roads filled with bicycles and parks to ultra modern cities coupled with skyscrapers.

You've put up with us, and now we salute you.

Happy Birthday once again. You're always in our hearts!

-creamcrackers crew-

Karate chopped!

SO whats the real story?

Miscommunication, unwarranted profiling or something else which will only create tension for both Malaysia and Indonesia?

There are only more questions to answers in the incident involving a Karate official from Indonesia who claimed he was bundled into an unmarked van, battered by four plain clothed policemen despite being in cuffed and later sent to the police station last Friday.

The referee was here for the Asian Karate Championship in Nilai which was held over the weekend.

There are several versions to the story;

1. that the official Donald Peter Luther Kolopita, 47, was walking out from his hotel room looking for something to eat when he was stopped by a plainclothed policeman. Donald was not convinced and thought he was being robbed and appranetly threw the first punch at the policeman resulting three more police personnels attacking him causing serious bodily harm.

2. that Donald was thought to be an illegal immigrant and was cuffed as despite Donald stressing to them he was part of the Indonesian delegation, the four men continued assaulting him.

Seremban police are keeping mum over the issue. So is everybody within the governing sporting bodies.

Let's hope this is not a situation of unwarranted profiling- otherwise those with long hair, unshaven beards spotting tattoos on their arms will be deemed as terrorist.

Stories of it has been splashed in Indonesian dailies;

http://www.jurnalnasional.com/?med=Web&sec=Breaking+News&rbrk=Olah+Raga&id=2604

http://www.gatra.com/2007-08-25/versi_cetak.php?id=107198

-The Man Who Sold The World-

of BWF and FAM

There was an interesting article written in Berita Harian (Aug 21, 2007) with regards to the Badminton World Federation and FA of Malaysia issues.

After going through weeks of reports, it is quite clear certain quarters have been rather emotional in their pieces while others just choose to remain silent on the issues. Even worse, some self proclaimed badminton experts have got their facts wrong!

Pentadbir BWF, FAM harus telus

Pegawai sukan perlu ikut kewibawaan Tunku Abdul Rahman sebagai pemimpin

STADIUM Putra nyata gelanggang malang buat badminton negara. Selepas Piala Thomas 2000 yang menyaksikan kegagalan skuad kebangsaan, kali ini Kejohanan Dunia menjadi pentas terbaru kegagalan pemain negara.

Kesimpulan jelas terserlah ketika ini adalah betapa masalah kekuatan mental menjadi halangan besar buat pemain ketika mendukung harapan tinggi negara yang mahukan kejayaan - kali ini status juara dunia.

Kesempatan terbaik yang terhidang sekali lagi gagal dimanfaatkan pemain. Tapi, bukan itu mahu diperkatakan penulis kali ini.

Masalah urus tadbir persatuan khususnya Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) jelas menjadi tajuk utama di kalangan media sejak seminggu lalu.

Serangan Presiden BWF, Dr Kang Young-jung terhadap Ahli Majlisnya diketuai timbalannya, Datuk Punch Gunalan, yang didakwanya ‘diktator dalam demokrasi’, nyata ‘mengangkat’ nama Malaysia ketika pemain negara awal-awal lagi sudah tersungkur di gelanggang.

Gunalan pula bukan sahaja gagal memberikan jawapan tepat atas segala tuduhan, malah nampak cuba berselindung di sebalik ‘orang kanannya’ - dua naib presiden, V K Verma dan Robin Bryant, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hubungan Antarabangsa, Roger Johansson dan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Acara, Ann Smiley - sewaktu sidang media di stadium itu, Ahad lalu.

Senarionya cukup berbeza. Gunalan dengan empat konconya berbanding Dr Kang tampil dengan seorang penterjemah sahaja.

Penulis cuma mahu mengucapkan tahniah kepada ‘lakonan’ mereka berlima termasuk Gunalan yang enggan mengesahkan sama ada beliau diminta meletakkan jawatan oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman. Peliknya sehari sebelum itu Majlis mempersoalkan tindakan Azalina yang didakwa mereka cuba campur tangan, sekali gus melanggar Piagam Olimpik.

Mungkin pada ketika itu, sehari selepas itu, barulah mereka sedar kesilapan itu dan mahu mengaburi media, walaupun ada sudah berjaya ‘ditawan’ mereka sehingga memberikan laporan mengelirukan.

Lebih menghairankan, Azalina sendiri tidak menafikan laporan memetik sumber itu, kecuali media yang terlepas berita itu, mengenai cadangan meminta Gunalan meletak jawatan. Sebaliknya, beliau berkata,”Dia harus fikir yang dia warga Malaysia mengatasi kepentingannya selaku pegawai BWF.”

Penulis pelik mengapa tindakan Dr Kang mahu menyelamatkan imej BWF dengan memanggil bekas-bekas pegawai kanan Persekutuan Badminton Antarabangsa (IBF) menganggotai panel penyiasat penyalahgunaan kuasa badan induk itu, ditentang habis-habisan Majlis yang mahu melakukannya sendiri.

Antara mereka yang mahu dilantik Dr Kang adalah Lu Shenrong, Sir Craig Reedie dan Prof Charoen Watanasin - semuanya naib presiden seumur hidup BWF - pengiktirafan diberikan sendiri oleh BWF.

Penulis rasa cukup pelik mengapa Majlis BWF tidak terima orang yang mereka sendiri berikan pengiktirafan tinggi untuk menganggotai panel penyiasat isu perpindahan ibu pejabat BWF dari Cheltenham ke Kuala Lumpur selepas timbulnya dakwaan Gunalan membocorkan tawaran beberapa bandar raya kepada Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) di mana dia adalah naib presidennya.

Tokoh-tokoh itu adalah mereka yang pernah memegang jawatan tinggi dalam badan induk itu dan ketika ini tidak terbabit secara langsung dalam urusan pentadbiran. Jadi tentunya mereka mampu melakukan siasatan lebih bebas ke atas perpindahan membabitkan kos lebih AS$1 juta (RM3.5 juta), termasuk menebus kontrak sewa bangunan di Cheltenham

Seandainya Majlis sendiri mahu menyiasatnya, ia samalah seperti meminta ‘tertuduh siasat tertuduh’, sekali gus menunjukkan tiada ketelusan dalam BWF atau ada sesuatu cuba disembunyikan mereka.

Pemimpin persatuan wajar menegakkan etika, telus dan bertanggungjawab. Sebab itu kita kecewa dengan pelbagai laporan kurang enak mengenai masalah dalaman badan sukan yang ada kaitan dengan Malaysia akhir-akhir ini.

Dari FAM pula, bekas setiausaha agungnya Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad dilaporkan diasak pelbagai soalan ketika Majlis FAM bersidang di Wisma FAM Ahad lalu. Dia dilaporkan harus menyediakan laporan berhubung beberapa keputusan dikatakan dibuat di peringkat sekretariat tanpa merujuk kepada jawatankuasa terbabit ataupun exco.

Bagi penulis, siasatan menyeluruh harus diadakan bagi memberi gambaran bahawa pentadbiran BWF mahupun FAM dilihat cekap, telus, amanah dan bebas daripada sebarang pengaruh atau niat jahat.

Jika mereka benar-benar ikhlas, seharusnya sebuah panel bebas boleh diwujudkan bagi menentukan sama ada dituduh bersalah ataupun tidak.

Dalam kes FAM, tidak salah jika pemimpin tertinggi yang meragui beberapa keputusan Ibrahim melantik panel bebas. Dulupun Ibrahim pengerusi panel bebas untuk post-mortem kegagalan Sukan Olimpik di Athens, dengan MSN dijadikan belasahan.

Kali ini tidak salah jika bekas Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad dilantik mengetuai panel bebas menyiasat kemungkinan salah laku di FAM itu.

Menjelang sambutan kemerdekaan ke-50 negara, penulis tertarik dengan beberapa petikan akhbar memuji integriti Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra sebagai Perdana Menteri dan juga pemimpin sukan.

Tunku amat disegani ketika menerajui Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia dan FAM kerana urus tadbir yang cekap, amanah dan telus (good governance).

Agaknya, berapa kerat lagi pegawai sukan mengamalkan prinsip yang sama hari ini?

Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah were impressive in the World Championship held last week- pic courtesy of BadmintonNews

-The Man Who Sold The World-

TM flooded with woes?

SO what's the actual story with Telekom Malaysia when it comes to football?

Days ago it was reported in a local daily that Super League team Telekom Malaysia FC (TMFC) is widely rumoured to quit next season due to reasons unknown.

Then things got a little more apparent as their football website have not been operative for more than a month.

It is said writers are still contributing to the channel but have not been receiving any payments nor acknowledgement by anyone from TM or the body responsible for setting up the site.

There have been many unanswered questions and no one seems to know of anything.

Even more surprising is the weekly meetings are chaired by a bunch of nobody's who are more interested in marketing products rather than their commitment towards football.

Is this a sign that TM will pull out from the Malaysian League next year? Only time will tell.

pic of Menara Telekom- courtesy of livedesignonline

-The Man Who Sold The World-

you win some, you lose some

MALAYSIA surprisingly did quite ok in the Champions Youth Cup registering two narrow defeats and a draw.

Coached by Robert Alberts, the local lads first lost to Bayern Munich 2-1 before ending a goalless draw with Chelsea. They lost to PSV 2-0 in the last match of the group stages.

In badminton, Malaysia's doubles pair Tan Shen Bin and Ong Soon Hock lost to a better Japanese pair in the first round of the World Championship at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil.

Rexy Mainaky, the national doubles coach, was at a loss of words but hoped his other three pairs would be able to rise to the occasion.

-end-

NAMEWEE NEGARA KUKU : a matter of interpretation

This man is what we should all be calling the new age Malaysian.

As I see it, this is a man is just expressing about the current ongoings in his country.

He throws sarcasam, he curses and swears.

Yet deep inside, he still loves his nation despite all the flaws here and there- just like how he ends in his last line by singing

" But my mouth still sings -Rahmat BahagiaTuhan kurniakan Raja kita Selamat bertakhta"

For the sake of the so call 'celebrating 50 years of nationhood' spirit, can the parties who are intending to revoke his citizenship accept the fact that what this cinaman sang was the truth but nothing but the truth?

Buka la minda anda sedikit..kita bukan hidup di zaman batu abang..kakak oi..I

ni zaman IT zaman pemodenan. Zaman REALITI dan bukan FANTASI!!

For those of you who've watched the youtube version of namewee negaraku, but are not well verse with mandarin here is the translation of the Wee Meng Chee's namawee negara kuku(ripped from the net) who I belive still calls Malaysia his home.

NAMEWEE NEGARA KUKU

2007 Visit Malaysia Year Theme Song I Love My Country Negaraku

(Repeat) Check it out, yo, yo, yo.(Repeat) Negaraku,

Negarakuku.I love my country, only when you have a country you

Have a home Only with a home then there will be me, standing here

With you Loudly singing, don't be afraid Even though I curse all the time

My song, is just like the durian

Tough and spiky, only To see if you dare to open it, to look at the truth Inside It can be very stinky,

it can be very fragrant It only depends on what kind of nostrils you have.

Our police is called Mata

Because they have very shiny eyes

Once it's New Year, they will be very hard working

Holding pens but they will rarely write you a receipt

Because they are thirsty, they need to drink tea

Also kopi-O, want to add sugar?

If you add sugar, their mouths will sweetly smile at You

When you are leavingThey will even go "Tata"

"NegarakuTanah tumpahnya darahku

Rakyat hidup bersatu Dan maju.

This phenomenon, doesn't need any improvements

Neither does it need strengthening, the police and the People work together

A cup of coffee keeps our relationship temperate I so very suka

At least I won't go home and receive a saman (fine or Ticket)

My dad would sure be pissed

I would also kiong kan (swear word in Cantonese for "get raped"), with no car to drive

What to do, this time so very Kao lat (an expression, Something like aiyo)

With no car, how do I go out and play?

With no car, how do I wage "wild war"? (I don't know What it means but I assume it has something to do with A girl)

With no car, how do I go and watch ah kua? (transvestites)

This country, I like it very much.

5 in the morning

There's even a morning call to wake me up
This way we can know the time to get ready for class

And for work Don't blame, the government only takes cares of the Natives

Don't blame, we don't receive equal care

Only this way we can prove that we Chinese are not Afraid of hard work

Only this way we can train ourselves to find a Solution during hard times

Don't feel weird about their standards

Because this only shows that we are smart (or capable) Children who are not spoilt will not be dependentBecause you see some children are still not weaned off Breast-feeding.

Rahmat bahagiaTuhan kurniakanRaja Kita Selamat bertakhta.

People who hide in government departments are even Better (even more capable)

They can do everything so slowly

Even when people are queuing, are cursing stinky lelai (what's that?)

They're chill and unfazed

Sometimes they even bring out their kuih

They eat their nyonya kuih

More people will continue queuing up

Even when you curse stinky lelai it doesn't matter

Because the guard at the side is sleeping

And he won't scold you one lah.

The most important thing is to live happily; the most Important thing is to live comfortably

Don't be like the Chinese Busy the whole day, very tough

We really cannot NOT admire this spirit

"Because this is their attitude in life.(Attitude, attitude)I've been saying good things in this song I believe those of you who are pissed at me will like

This now The world is peaceful, and full of hope

No one is hurt, there aren't any riots You're so classy, you're so elegant

Your s**t is fragrant, and you don't curse

You guys are the most high class, every day it's just

Romancing Listening to Guang Liang Pin Guan (this local Chinese Artiste)

But he already ran to Taiwan Private school students graduate

It's so very tough to get admitted into local Universities

Actually we don't have to get pissed about this issue

Actually this is the a very noble plan by the Government

They want us to explore the world, to find new

Opportunities for ourselves

To learn things and come back and repay the country

This plan is so great, I can't quibble about it

All over the world you can see Malaysia's children

They're like refugees, so very shiok (expression for orgasm or high)

2007, Malaysia's having Visit Malaysia Year The Chinese culture is brought out and paraded

The government doesn't even care about private school students

The certificate is thrown into the longkang (ditch), just like me Graduated and went to Taiwan Learned about things,

and got ready to come back to repay my country

I stood on the streets of Taipei with my guitar.

But my mouth still sings.

Rahmat BahagiaTuhan kurniakan Raja kita Selamat bertakhta.

p/s namawee..gua respect sama lu! tabek spring. lu punya lagu manya catchy!:)

-about a girl-

another round of humiliation begins

MALAYSIA will start their Champions Youth Cup campaign tomorrow as they play German giants Bayern Munich in the curtain raiser at a lowly maintained Sarawak Stadium.

Journalists covering the event are neither pleased nor happy with the whole set up. The Kuching stadia is embarassing and the teams are forced to practise at the old stadium while repair works are being done at the newer stadium- hardly 48 hours prior hosting the tournament.

The Sports Ministry has allocated RM1.3million to be distributed to the repsective venues and surprisingly the cash went direct to the state FA's without going through the national body (FAM).

Malaysia are in Group D together with Bayern, PSV Eindhoven and Chelsea youth clubs.

Sit back for another humilating event, unless Robert Alberts's charges can prove us wrong.

-The Man Who Sold The World-

Kedah win Super League title

Coutersy of tmfootballchannel

THE battle of the northern supremacy has finally come to an end.

Kedah are named the new champions of this season’s Super League after edging Brunei’s DPMM FC 1-0 in Bandar Seri Begawan.

National player K.Soley was the hero of the day after slotting Kedah’s solitary goal in the 14th minute, giving his side a well deserved three points. Kedah top the table with 55 points.

Perak’s Steve Darby must have been cursing his

luck. In what is termed as ‘so near yet so far’ the Englishman led his charges to beating Sarawak 4-2 in their final match at the Kuching Stadium.

Yet it was not enough for the Seladangs to clinch the title despite having ruled the standings during the mid-season.

Khalid Jamlus scored a hat-trick (15th, 77th and 90th minutes) while hotshot striker Keita Mandjou nailed another in the 33rd minute.

Sarawak obtained their share of goals through Irwandi Chempaka and Romeo Kambe leaving Perak to play bridesmaid- just a point shy from Kedah in the standings.

The season has seen its fair share of ups and downs. From the in tensed domination of the northern states- namely champions Kedah, Perlis and Perak- to the drama of drug abuse and funding woes seen in Sarawak.

Brunei’s DPMM deserves credit for they have certainly raised many eyebrows.
Selangor failed to rise to the occasion while Pahang were often clueless in their Super League campaign. Ironically, both teams are coached by former nationals Dollah Salleh and Zainal Abidin respectively.

The list of top goal scorers even raises more questions with regards to the standards of the local strike force. The top four are dominated by imports while Perak’s Khalid Jamlus is the best local striker.

Surprisingly, Khalid was not asked to don the national colours.
Instead, Selangor’s Akmal Rizal Rakhli led Malaysia in their disastrous Asian Cup campaign-despite only boasting seven goals in the season.

As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has barred his ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries from holding key positions in sporting bodies, many believe this would see a new change of era in the local sports especially within football.

With the FA of Malaysia too heading towards changes within the administration, many are playing the waiting game to see what will be lined up in the following season of the Super League.

Only time will tell.

pic: Marlon Alex James taking a shot at goal- courtesy of Utusan Malaysia.

-creamcrackers-

no more minister!

SO the prime minister has spoken. Let's now jump for joy!

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has restricted his fellow ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries from carrying any post within any sporting body in the country.

This was revealed by Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said.

Let's see how Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim gives up his 'not one but very many posts' within various sporting associations.

Hopefully, this is a first step towards better governance within sports in Malaysia.

-The Man Who Sold The World-