Posts Tagged ‘ismail sabri yaakob’

Malaysian National Sports Convention

Nov 13, 2008 Rantings

Until I read this article a couple of days ago, I didn’t even know we had such a thing. Not surprising, after all, the last time the convention was held - also the first ever, if I gather correctly - was in 1996.

From reports, there appears to be a genuine concern (oh, finally!), if Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s words are anything to go by. The Star writes:

Same old problems and issues in Malaysian sports were highlighted during a two-day National Sports Convention, which ended yesterday at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

But this time, there were promises of new approaches and fresh starts to deal with them in a bid to steer Malaysian sport in the right direction. At least, that was the assurance given by Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Well, it’s about time, I say. The NST summarises the convention here but the Malay Mail reported the dirt - there was apparently a whole lot of blaming going on.

Some lambasted public varsities for their strict entry requirements for athelets while others ridiculed our schooliong system and questioned the sincerity of the revelent ministries - mainly the Education and Sports Ministeries - for not working in tandem towards the beterment of sports.

Even the media were not spared for giving too much space on foreign sports instead of local affairs.

Even the NST picked up on that, and dedicated a short article to the media bashing. Now, I have to put a disclaimer - I am not defending the media just because I’m one of “them”. I am writing the following few sentences as just an individual, one who finds the argument extremely flawed.

The NST article reads:

Several delegates said the media should play its role in developing local sports rather than focusing on what is happening abroad.

So, what do they want? Nicol David and Lee Chong Wei’s face on the back pages all the time? How many athletes do we have in the country that really warrants heavy media coverage? I don’t write for sports but even I can tell that most events involving Malaysians are covered in the papers.

And I don’t know about you, but as a reader, I enjoy reading major stories about our sportsmen/women but moderately. I am interested in other sports as well. And let’s face it, there are more tournaments happening around the world that doesn’t involve our athletes - so percentage wise (7 cover stories a week), does it not make sense to have more stories about foreign sports?

I didn’t hear his whole speech, but this blurb in the Malay Mail but Najib, I think makes perfect sense.

“When people read the papers, they read the front page and quickly flip to the back page. They don’t want to read about Lewis Hamilton or Manchester Uited. They want to see our locals making it to the back pages.”

I think the operative term here is “making it” and I would be glad to read more about our fellow Malaysians who has done well because let’s be honest: who wants to be affiliated with losers?

I know it’s a bit of a catch-22, and that it’s hard for sports to develop without public support, but the focus has to be on the development, and not the politics which IMHO has marred our nation’s glory in sports.

The Sports Minister sounds like he’s serious about revamping Malaysian sports. I hope he is, and wish him all the best, because as much as I admire our current (and past greats), I for one would love to read more about our other successful athletes.

4.32pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)

Tags: , , ,