New (old) OCM

New (old) OCM

Submitted by Zam on Monday, June 1st, 2009

Elections serve up familiar faces and it does not bode well for Malaysia sports

Haresh Deol

Monday, June 1st, 2009 04:57:00

SHOULD we harp on changes? Or should we insist on improvisation? The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) sport a ‘new’ lineup for the 2009-2011 term. Yet, there were no fresh faces.

Having won the top seat unopposed, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar had this to say: “I’m happy there’s a good representation (of various races) which is in line with the concept of 1Malaysia.”

Former sprint king Datuk M. Jegathesan wore a big smile after garnering 65 votes to keep his deputy-president’s post, brushing aside Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad who obtained 33 votes.

Squash Racquet Association Malaysia (SRAM) president Datuk A. Sani Karim returned to the fold after a two-year hiatus and joins Prof Datuk W.Y. Chin, Prof Datuk Zakaria Ahmad and Datuk Roy Rajasingham as vicepresidents. Legal eagle Low Beng Choo, representing the fairer sex, also won the vice-president’s post uncontested.

The delegates have spoken and now it is for the elected board to pursue the goals in the new term. Among the activities lined up are the establishment of an all-local sports programme, a rating exercise for national associations and a foundation catering the welfare of current and former national athletes.

Well and good but here’s some food for thought. Bad-mouthing seems to be a favourite pasttime within the cubicles of OCM. Some openly declare war while others silently chart the downfall of certain individuals for reasons best known to them. There are the handful with vested interest. Isn’t all this unethical for an organisation representing the country abroad?

Among the OCM objectives, as proudly displayed at their Sports Museum, are..."to be completely independent and autonomous and to resist all pressures of any kind, including those of a political, religions or economic nature”.

Tunku Imran, Beng Choo, Sani and Chin are presidents of their respective national associations which receive funding from NSC. So, are OCM really independent? Cricket and softball are struggling to make an impact among the masses while Malaysian squash seem to only revolve around world No 1 Nicol David.

There are only two cue artists — Chew Yew Wah and Lai Chee Wei — training alongside pool players Esther Kwan and Suhana Dewi Sabtu at Bukit Jalil. They have been without a coach since the 2005 Manila Sea Games. How are these individuals going to shape up OCM when their own houses are not in order? Love him or hate him, OCM general-secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi has never been afraid to speak his mind — even to ministers. Will he finally groom a successor?

“There are many capable individuals such as Datuk Naim (Mohammad) and T. Kumar. But when I mention names, people claim I practise favouritism,” said Kok Chi. “There will be a successor when the time is right. I know when to leave.” OCM should play a more aggressive role in Malaysian sports. It's high time for OCM to shed their ‘old folks home’ image and send the right signals instead.

“We’re not perfect and we need to get our act right to be a more professional set-up. We will continue with what we’ve been doing...hopefully better than before,” added Kok Chi.

OCM LINEUP 2009-2011

President: Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar

Deputy president: Datuk Dr M Jegathesan

Vice-presidents: Datuk A. Sani Karim, Prof Datuk W.Y. Chin, Prof Datuk Zakaria Ahmad, Datuk Roy Rajasingham, Low Beng Choo

Honorary secretary: Datuk Sieh Kok Chi

Honorary assistant secretary : Ramlay Ibrahim, Moira Tan Siew See

Treasurer: Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee

Assistant treasurer: Rosmanizam Abdullah

Jega re-elected and status quo maintained

The results

Cik Hajjah Norminshah Sabirin monitoring the vote count

The OCM delegates

"It was the first time I stood for elections. After discussions with a few people, I decided to face the challenge because I did not want to be labelled as having run away from a fight," so said Dr Jega to a few members of the Press

The 2009-2011 line-up
Back row (from left): Moira Tan, A Sani Karim, Roy Rajasingham, Ramlay Ibrahim, Kee Yong Wee, Ang Teck Lee. Front row (from left): Low Beng Choo, Sieh Kok Chin, Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, Dr M. Jegathesan, Prof W.Y. Chin. Absent (Prof Zakaria Ahmad who was in the United States)

A thumping victory for Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, whereas the candidates linked to the other camp were swept away by the delegates' decision to maintain the status quo.

So here's the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) line-up for 2009-2011:

President: Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar (unopposed after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim withdrew on Friday)

Deputy president: Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan (beat Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad 65-33)

Vice-presidents (4 men, 1 woman): Datuk Abdullah Sani Karim (95), Prof Datuk W. Y. Chin (89 votes), Prof Zakaria Ahmad (79), Datuk Roy Rajasingham (70). Former OCM general manager M.P. Haridas polled 59 votes. Low Beng Choo (unopposed as the women's VP).

Honorary secretary: Datuk Sieh Kok Chi (unopposed)

Honorary assistant secretary (man): Ramlay Ibrahim (51), Hisham Mohd Noor (23), L. Ramesh (18), Lawrence Yeow (3)

Honorary assistant secretary (woman): Moira Tan Siew See (52), Latifah Tan Sri Ya'cob (46)

Treasurer: Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee (unopposed)

Assistant treasurer: Rosmanizam Abdullah @ Ang Teck Lee @ K.T. Rajah (unopposed)

Win Again!!

Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar (left) congratulating Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan who retained his post as deputy president at the OCM elections yesterday. — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

IF Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad thought he could give Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan -- who was once the fastest man in Asia -- a run for his money, he was wrong.

Dr Jegathesan, a former Asian Games 100m gold medallist, retained his deputy president's post with an almost two-third majority in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) elections yesterday.

Jegathesan, who has never been challenged since succeeding the late Tan Sri Khir Johari as deputy president, described the two days prior to the elections as his toughest since joining OCM.

The "Flying Doc" garnered 65 out of 98 votes while Ibrahim could only muster 33 votes despite being seen as a strong challenger.

Ibrahim, who had said he wanted to see some positive changes in OCM, did not seek re-election for vice-president, a post he held in the just ended two-year term.
"It has been a tough couple of days for me. This is the first time I have been challenged since 2002 and I an flattered by the enormous support and trust given by the affiliates," said Jegathesan.

"I have no intention at any time to withdraw from competition as I never want to be seen running away from my responsibility. I will continue to work hard to raise the quality of sports in the country."

In the vice-presidents' tussle, SRA of Malaysia (SRAM) president Datuk A. Sani Karim returned to the OCM with a landslide victory, amassing 95 out of 98 votes.

Sani was out of the OCM from 2005 to 2007 after his business partner was diagnosed with lung cancer. Joining him as vice-president are incumbents Professor Datuk Dr W.Y. Chin (89 votes), Professor Datuk Zakaria Ahmad (79), Datuk Roy Rajasingham (70) and Low Beng Choo who was elected unopposed as the women's vice-president. Former OCM administrator M.P. Haridas missed the boat after securing 59 votes.

Incumbent assistant secretary Ramlay Ibrahim retained his seat with 51 votes, after sweeping aside the challenge of Mohd Hisham Mohd Nor (23), L. Ramesh (18) and Lawrence Yeow (3).

Incumbent assistant secretary (woman) Moira Tan successfully defended her seat by securing 52 votes against Latifah Ya'cob's 46.

Secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi was returned unopposed and so were incumbents Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee as the treasurer and Rosmanizam Abdullah as the assistant treasurer.

OCM 2009-2011 Office-Bearers:

- President: Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.

- Deputy President: Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan.

- Vice-Presidents: Datuk A. Sani Karim, Professor Datuk Dr W.Y. Chin, Professor Datuk Zakaria Ahmad, Datuk Roy Rajasingham, Low Beng Choo.

- Secretary: Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

- Assistant Secretaries: Ramlay Ibrahim, Moira Tan.

- Treasurer: Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee.

- Assistant Treasurer: Rosmanizam Abdullah.