Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today. Community leaders criticised the attack on the fourth estate, labelling it as an act of intimidation against the public. Bukit Bandaraya residents’ association president Datuk Mumtaz Ali said issues highlighted by the media were problems that affected the community. “The attack against Malay Mail should not have occurred as the paper has always been the voice of the people throughout the years,” said Mumtaz. “We take our grouses to the media because certain quarters do not adhere to rules and guidelines, or when the authorities fail to act.” He said the attack against the media was also an attack on the community. “We speak on behalf of the people and if the media is being attacked for highlighting such matters, it can also be viewed as an attack against the people,” he said. Malay Mail editor emeritus Frankie D’ Cruz, who was on his way to have breakfast in Taman Danau Desa on Tuesday, was rounded up by five men who accused ...

Haresh Says, as published in Malay Mail today. IT was mid-August 2007.  The auditorium at the National Sports Council was packed with reporters, all armed with questions pertaining to an incident that took place in Negri Sembilan days earlier. Indonesian karate referee Donald Peter Luther Kolopita, who was in the country for the Asian Karate Championships at the Nilai Indoor Stadium, alleged he was attacked by plainclothes police officers. The Indonesian team pulled out from the tournament as a sign of protest over the episode while the republic’s government demanded a thorough investigation by the authorities. When the incident was raised, the then Youth and Sports Minister coolly said: “The only Indonesian I know is my maid.” There was pin-drop silence.  In recent days there were comments made by two rather senior ministers which raised eyebrows during the press conferences. The quotes were captured by journalists on their recording de...

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — Any allocation from the Youth and Sports Ministry for future Malaysia Games (Sukma) will only be for the upgrading works of existing facilities.   Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it was the federal government’s policy to ensure all states had a main stadium and that Perlis was the last state to own its sports complex — the Tunku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Sports Complex in Kangar.     “After this, no more (funds for building stadiums),” he said.   “It was a federal (government) policy to make sure every state had it own facilities and that Sukma be held at every state. From now, any allocation from the ministry will be strictly for upgrading facilities.” He, however, said states were free to build their own infrastructure using their own funds.  Khairy was responding to the canvas roof which fell due to strong winds and a downpour at the newly ...

Haresh Says, as published in Mailsport today. “Terlepas pandang” It simply means oversight. And that line is often shared by a businessman acquaintance whom I have met on several occasions. Each time we meet, the subject of oversight by the authorities crops up.     “You know-lah, when officials want to cover up their mistakes, they will just brush the issue aside and say terlepas pandang. I’ve dealt with so many government agencies and I think those two words are in their text books somewhere,” he joked during our recent chat. When national news agency Bernama, had on Sunday, flashed a story about the leakage at a badminton hall hosting the 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kangar, the words “terlepas pandang” crossed my mind.  This was after the canvas roof at the aquatic complex in the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Sports Complex was torn apart, disrupting the swimming competition. The golf course was also not ready with the landscaping delay...