Empty promises – Don’t take it personally but it’s all about the MONEY!!!

It is a favourite pass time now in Malaysia, making empty promises. All of us regardless if you are a labourer, CEO, association or political president, no matter how we may deny it, we all are guilty of making these ‘empty promises’.

For politicians though especially in Malaysia it does seem to be a trade you must have to succeed. Time and time, over and over again these politicians have promised us everything and anything under the sun and has failed to deliver even the simplest things. It is a norm isn’t it when it comes to politics. Well, that may be but a line must be drawn when one individual continues to talk the talk and can’t walk the walk. Weird is that when you stop over at any ‘kedai kopi’ and criticism and condemnation from these coffee shop politicians but these very people that are complaining are the very people that voted for the one they are scrutinising.

Come on la Malaysians, have you all forgotten this saying of ‘fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me’. You guys voted for the crook so stop complaining and you have nobody to blame but yourselves. Shame on you. If you’re not satisfied then for heaven’s sake stop voting for him. That is how you get rid of useless politicians and that is what elections and voting are for.

Heck, even politicians themselves have been screwed by their fellow politicians too. Being of the same breed of crooked politicians doesn’t guarantee any immunity from being short changed as well. Party president will mislead the deputy president, party leaders will mislead the committee members and committee members will mislead the ordinary members. It is just a vicious cycle that keeps on turning and turning.

Evident of this from the just concluded SUPP triennial delegates conference. The party’s president Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and his deputy president Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding made a promise to step down from their party posts to give way to the younger generation. A promise that they made 2 years ago but guess what, yup, they are still there hanging on to the same posts. Guess what again, not only did they not relinquish their posts but they have retain the losing team that got whacked in the last state election. Talk about learning from your mistakes…..

All the same goons are still sitting pretty like SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui, publicity and information secretary Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loy, Lily Yong and Chan Seng Khai, all of which were humbled in the last election by the opposition. What change and reforms will SUPP be expecting keeping the old guards. Things will continue to remain as it is and it is a known fact that you just can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Ironically is the very people that are complaining about this is the very same people that casts their votes to elect back the two same president and deputy president. What gives man?!! Does this geniuses know that in Malaysia we practice democracy styled voting where you vote to elect or to retain and not reality tv “Survivor” tyled voting where at tribal council you actually vote to get rid of a certain some one.

Political parties are not the only ones infected with this stupidity. Even sports bodies in Malaysia have contracted this disease. Why you might ask??? Well, the answer is simple. In the old days, sports was about commitment, passion and desire to achieve greatness for oneself, for their state or country. Now because of commercialization, sports has become a big money earner may it be for the athletes or those involve with it. Government and state grants and funds are also up for grabs. With the need of equipment and facilities as well, business opportunities are also at abundance.

Sports bodies and associations face this dilemma that present office bearers will promise to relinquish their post but in the end hog it for as long as they can. Why do they do this since they have nothing but complains that it is a very stressful, pressuring and hard working posts??? Why do they refuse to just retire??? Why if it is such hell to have that post that many are willing to fight for it??? Is it because of the passion and love they have for the sport and the association???

The answer is simple and can be found in this formula :

PARTY/ASSOCIATION POST=POWER+BUSINESS INTEREST/OPPORTUNITY=LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY

It is no rocket science but as simple as it may seem there is lots of validity and truth in it. I am sure anyone familiar with any kind of such organization can relate to this fact. There is no free lunch in this world and neither does anyone wants to work for free.

Take the Football Association of Sarawak of FAS as an example. They were once a very cash and asset rich organization with a very feared and respected football team in Bolehland. Today it is nothing but a joke. The association can’t even afford to send the team out for their away matches and is seriously in debt. Cash and assets has long gone and the association is as good as bankrupted. Players haven’t received their promised wages in god knows how many months. Heck, when the association was in such dire straits our Chief Minister, the richest man in the state didn’t even want to get his hands dirty with it. With the wealth that he amassed, saving the state football team and FAS would have been peanuts for him. Why did he and many others turn their backs on the association???

Simple fact that the formula can’t work in this fund defunct association anymore because someone else has already sucked it dry. So there is no mad rush for the top spot anymore unlike when the association’s coffers were full. Think back and Sarawakians familiar with the sport will definitely recall those days when being the president of FAS was such an honour and those that had that honour tried their damnest not to relinquish it.

With so much scandals and controversies surrounding the FAS it is a wonder how come the ACA does not find the happenings irregular enough to start an investigation. I mean a well of association wound up being penniless and that doesn’t sound any bells in the anti-corruption office, a bit strange isn’t it???

Anyway, a full proof solution to the woes of FAS was finally found. Since it is a cardinal sin in Malaysia not to have your very own state football team, even though they stink, what other better way to solve the problem than to support the association through the state sports ministry. Who foots the bill at the end of the day bailing them out of the pickle they’re in…..US, the taxpayers!!!

This sport has always been allocated with the most budget for many years and have continued to disappoint. Now they want to use more of our state’s funds and resources to finance it some more???
What the hell for?!! Its like a rotten apple, throw it away before it rots the whole basket. The budget allocated for FAS should be cut and given to other sports that have been performing well to bring glory for the state. They deserve it.

One sport that Sarawak is no whipping boys in the country is bowling. Our state keglers have always delivered the goods and done us proud. This year will be different though. They will be no joy for the state as ABAS (Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak) which oversees the development and progress of the sport in the state has announced that they will not be sending any team to the annual national championship or Interstate because they do not have sufficient funds.

Isn’t it a sad story that these kids have been training and preparing hard for this tournament the whole year only to be disappointed in the end. The Interstate for bowlers are like the World Cup of football for our local bowling scene. Men, women and children alike practice hard with the hope of being selected and given the chance to represent the state. Dreams have been shattered because the sports ministry’s funds have all gone to other high profile sports that achieve squat for our state.

Not fair now is it but that is the way things here in Malaysia works. Merit counts for shit. All the blame can’t be put on the shoulder of the sports ministry as well. Some should be put on the bowling association itself. About 2 to 3 years ago the association was very proud and arrogantly spending when out on trips because then the budget allocated was sufficient or fair to say sufficiently more. Prudent spending was then not a consideration as tournament trips and outing filled the calendar. These trips and outings were also accommodated with high allowances, fancy accommodations and who knows what else.

If they had been frugal on their spending previously then there might not have been a problem to send a team to the nationals. Available funds allocated for the association to run its yearly programme is made known to the officials so proper planning budgeting even cut backs if need be can be made accordingly.
So what excuse has the association got to give for their failure to put aside adequate budget for the interstate??? They haven’t done much throughout the year for the men and women’s bowlers and what is the point for them to pay their membership fee anyway. All you get is a small blue slip of paper as the membership card and its not even laminated!!!

What is happening to this association??? To many bowlers this association is as good as gone. The office bearers and committee members should put some serious efforts into improving the association. Nothing much happens being a member except for its bi-annual AGM and the Sarawak Closed championship that yeah, has been cancelled this year due to lack of funds. It is just sad what the association has become. No effort except that of asking for more budget allocation from the ministry. Over the years of being spoon fed by the government has just made them all too dependent and lazy.

Office bearers of the association that has been there too long and are burned out of ideas should give way to new and young blood to spruce and freshen up things. The existing officers should stay on also even though relinquishing their post and advice the new incoming generation that will be taking over. This association has come too far and is the blood and sweat of many to just let it go down the drain.

There are already a few young officers in the association now and their efforts to pick up the tricks and trades from their seniors are very much appreciated. Some are slowly rising in power and stature in the association. Lets just hope that this rise to prominence is all for the benefit of ABAS and not self benefitting purposes to give extra leverage to one’s business and to gain mileage of wealth. Remember this little simple formula :

PARTY/ASSOCIATION POST=POWER+BUSINESS INTEREST/OPPORTUNITY=LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY

There is still much that can be done for ABAS now unlike SUPP as the bi-annual AGM is coming up in a weeks time. So members should put some effort and attend the meeting and have your say. Feed back, inquiries, suggestion and opinion are all for the good of the association. Rock the boat a bit so those that are at the helm won’t for a minute think that they can do whatever they please. The association is owned by each and everyone of its paying member and they all have equal rights. It is not own by a certain individual or group or company.
So do vote and vote wisely whenever there is any election. Stop being like them ‘kopitiam politicians’ complaining and criticizing but when they had a chance to make things right, they didn’t.