Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol SOME have described them as “lazy” and “set in their ways”. Others say they are a contented lot, happy with their traditional way of life and cannot be changed. A former school teacher, who taught in a primary school in Gerik, shared her tales of dealing with the community. “It’s not easy dealing with orang asli children. Most of them are not eager to learn and often skip school. However, the school does not take action as we want to encourage them to stay in school,” she said, requesting anonymity. “Some of them come to school in slippers, sometimes without uniforms. During examinations, we will coach them to ensure they score the bare minimum. This is the reality no one speaks about.” The Education Ministry, or at least those administrating schools in the outskirts, know this. When seven children from SK Pos Tohoi in Gua Musang went missing on Aug 23, the horror tales emerged. Many earlie...

Haresh Says, as published in Malay Mail today. IT is the wrath of the Man upstairs, so they say. The massive floods that hit most areas in the east coast is a real-life nightmare as the number of victims exceeds 200,000. The aftermath is unimaginable — an ugly sight to behold on the 10th anniversary of the deadly tsunami disaster.  Images of flattened homes and toppled vehicles greet villagers as some returned home on Monday.  Others are forced to remain at relief centres, unsure what their future holds once the waters subside. Perhaps watching innocent young children have fun in the water could put a smile on the faces of the elderly.  Fuel and clean water are sacred, not all automated teller machines are in working order and they are running out of cash. The kind-hearted, who have rallied to help those in need, can only do so much given the current circumstances. And to quote a leader who was elected to represent the people ...

As published in Malay Mail today. “I saw two people drown in front of me near my house several days ago. I wanted to help them so badly, but I couldn’t do anything due to the strong currents. I saw them drift away helplessly. The flood situation is at a critical stage. My previous residential area near Grand Riverview Hotel in Kota Baru was totally destroyed. My family members are all over the place ... some at evacuation centres, some staying with me. My friends are also suffering. One of them just lost five cars as a result of this tragedy. The entire Kota Baru town is submerged in water. It has not rained here, but heavy rain in places like Gua Musang and Kuala Krai have resulted in water gushing into our town. You can’t drive in Kota Baru any more, it is that bad. Even though it has always rained here during the monsoon season, it was never this critical. I have never experienced such a situation in all my 32 years living in Kelantan. I’m not even thinking about ...

KENYATAAN AKHBAR TAN SRI ANNUAR MUSA, TIMBALAN PRESIDEN FAM MERANGKAP PRESIDEN KAFA Saya telah mengikuti dengan teliti perkembangan dan kemelut yang berlaku, khususnya antara YB Menteri Belia dan Sukan dengan Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), sejak saya dilantik menganggotai Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Program Bolasepak Negara (JKPPBSN), November lalu. Adalah ditegaskan pelantikan yang dibuat oleh YB Menteri terhadap saya, atas sifat saya selaku Ahli Parlimen Malaysia (Bersama seorang lagi Ahli Parlimen yang lain) ADALAH SAH dan tidak harus dipertikaikan. YB Menteri pada menjalankan tugas dan dengan kuasanya BERHAK melantik sesiapa sahaja mengikut budibicaranya bagi menganggotai JKPPBSN tersebut. Usaha YB Menteri melantik pelbagai pihak dan ‘stakeholders’ ini amat dialu-alukan sekali. Adalah ditegaskan juga bahawa Jawatankuasa yang dibentuk YB Menteri adalah sebuah entiti Kerajaan yang mempunyai peranan yang lebih luas, terutama dalam konteks pembangunan bolasepak. Ia di luar SKOP DA...

Berikut merupakan senarai pemenang Anugerah Bola Sepak Kebangsaan 2013 yang berlangsung hari ini: Penjaga Gol Terbaik: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kelantan) Pertahanan Terbaik: Baihakki Khaizan (LionsXII) Pemain Tengah Terbaik & Pemain Paling Bernilai: Badhri Radzi (Kelantan) Penyerang Terbaik: Norfarhan Muhammad (Kelantan) Pemain Harapan Terbaik: Junior Eldstal (Sarawak) Jurulatih terbaik: Dollah Salleh (Pahang) Pemain Import Terbaik: Marlon Alex James (ATM) Persatuan Bolasepak Negeri Terbaik: Persatuan Bolasepak Negeri Terengganu Kelab Bolasepak Terbaik: Sime Darby FC Kelab Penyokong Terbaik: Kelantan Pengadil Terbaik: Nagor Amir Nor Mohamad Penolong Pengadil Terbaik: Sabri Mat Daud Anugerah Fairplay: Polis Diraja Malaysia Anugerah Khas:     1) Paul Mony 2) Dell Akhbar Khan 3) Azzudin Ahmad 4) Ibrahim Saad HD kata: Tahniah kepada semua pemenang!

Seorang peminat setia Tok Gajah tekad berjalan sejauh 280 kilometer (km) dari Kuantan ke Stadium Shah Alam bagi membayar nazar berikutan kejayaan skuad Pahang menjuarai Piala Malaysia musim ini. Abdul Majid Abdul Hamid, 57 mula berjalan pada 6.45 petang dari Masjid Negeri, pada Nov 6. Pengawal keselamatan itu memberitahu, doanya makbul apabila pasukan kesayangannya itu menewaskan Kelantan, 1-0 di final. “Saya bayar nazar kerana doa saya untuk melihat Tok Gajah merangkul Piala Malaysia dimakbulkan ALLAH SWT." Baca selanjutnya di sini . HD kata: Respect!

Haresh Says, as published in Mailsport today. THE venue: An Irish bar in the heart of Bukit Bintang. The time: Five hours before the kick off of the Malaysia Cup final last Sunday. The ‘visitor’: Englishman Antony Sutton , who settled down in Jakarta more than a decade ago and is known as  Mr Jakarta Casual as per his blog and column in Jakarta Globe. The ‘host’: Yours truly The ‘match’: Malaysian football. Sutton is among the growing number of Mat Sallehs who is extremely fascinated with football in this region. He often writes about the leagues in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia and even Malaysia. We first shared our views about the possible outcome of the Malaysia Cup final. I had earlier predicted Kelantan to defeat Pahang 2-0. Instead, the Elephants trampled over the Red Warriors as Argentine Matias Conti scored the solitary goal of the match for Pahang to reclaim the title they last won in 1992. Sutton then progressed into the M-Lea...

I was wrong in my 'ramalan'. Based on their current form and the team's build up especially throughout the Malaysia Cup, I thought Kelantan would defeat Pahang 2-0 in the final. Instead, Pahang's Argentinean star Matias Conti ( pic ) scored the solitary goal of the match and it was enough for Pahang to clinch the title they last won in 1992. It was a different Kelantan on the field, especially in the last 15 minutes of the match. Pahang clearly had more fire compared to the Red Warriors. 'Tok Gajah tamat kemarau 21 tahun' as reported by Harian Metro and Pahang ends 21-year wait, as reported in The Malay Mail today. This marks the end of the 2013 season which, sadly, has been plagued with the same problems - players not being paid wages on time, claims of match-fixing, horrible playing ground, ticketing issues and fans lighting up flares at the stands. It also saw changes within the FA of Malaysia - mainly Hamidin Amin replacing Azzudin Ahmad as the g...

Malam ini akan menjadi penentuan samada Kelantan mampu mengekalkan takhta Piala Malaysia atau Pahang merampas piala yang mereka menang pada 1992. Segalanya akan terjawab di Stadium Shah Alam (sepak mula 8.45 malam).  Saya merasakan bahawa Kelantan mampu memenangi Piala Malaysia sekali lagi. Anda pula bagaimana? Tahun Juara Jaringan Naib Juara Stadium 2013      ???  ???               2012 Kelantan 3 – 2 ATM FA Stadium Shah Alam, Selangor 2011 Negeri Sembilan 2 – 1 Terengganu Stadium Shah Alam, Selangor 2010 Kelantan 2 – 1 Negeri Sembilan Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 2009 Negeri Sembilan 3 – 1 Kelantan Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 2008 Kedah 3 – 2 Selangor Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 2007 Kedah 3 – 0 Perak Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 2006 Perlis 2 – 1 Negeri Sembilan Stadium Bukit Jalil,...