Foul!

As published in Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper yesterday By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA - A cloud of uncertainty hovers over Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) after four players turned their backs on the national team. An insider said there has been utter silence among players regarding the issue since Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak first announced he was quitting through the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page on Tuesday. The others who followed suit were Safiq Rahim, S.Kunalan and Amirulhadi Zainal. None of them have spoke to the media about their decision. "Some of the players are clueless as to what is going on, why this is happening," said the insider. "Since those who quit aren't talking about it, others feel it's not in their place to ask. They rather lay low since it has nothing to do with them." The insider said some are unsure of what they should do if they receive a call-up from Datuk Ong Kim Swee. "If given a chanc...

As published in Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my THE extraordinary exodus from the national team continued today with two more Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players turning their backs on Malaysia.  S. Kunanlan and Amirulhadi Zainal announced their decision, through Facebook, to quit Harimau Malaysia — barely 48 hours after JDT teammates Safiq Rahim and Aidil Zafuan Radzak ditched the Jalur Gemilang. In a posting on Johor Southern Tigers page, Kunalan said this morning he was proud to wear the national jersey since his Under-23 team days. “Thank you for the support and guidance all these years. I truly appreciate it.” Amirulhadi made his intention public on his Facebook account before it was posted on Johor Southern Tigers page at 12.20pm.  “I thank the fans and all involved, including coach (Datuk) Ong (Kim Swee), who’ve been supportive throughout my journey with the national team. “That’s all I c...

As featured in Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my FIRST they let their country down. Now, they turn their backs on the Jalur Gemilang. It appears the spat between Johor Darul Ta'zim and the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has escalated to a new level. Captain Safiq Rahim and Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak quit Harimau Malaysia hours apart yesterday through statements posted on their club (Johor Southern Tigers) Facebook page yesterday. And more are expected to abandon the sinking ship as the national team continues to produce unconvincing results since the 10-0 thrashing by United Arab Emirates during the World Cup qualifying match last year. National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee was tongue tied when asked to comment about the resignations yesterday. But he is bracing for more to leave. Insiders say more JDT players are expected to discard the national colours, leaving Kim Swee in a lurch as he prepares the team for the Asean Football Federation Cu...

As published in Mailsport today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The national team, already struggling in the international arena, were dealt a blow after two key players quit. Captain Safiq Rahim and Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak announced their retirement, just hours apart, from Harimau Malaysia through their club Johor Darul Ta’zim (Johor Southern Tigers) Facebook page yesterday. National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, however, said he will not be surprised if more players leave the national outfit. “I heard it from the media. I was not informed of anything. “I don't know what is the reason, why they are leaving. But I won't be surprised if more will leave.” While admitting it was a setback, Kim Swee said he will have to move forward as he prepares the team for the Asean Football Federation Cup that starts on Nov 19. “I like challenges, I don't mind the stress ... but not such challenges and stress. I don't want ...

An IS suspect in a SpongeBob T-shirt nabbed recently.  HARESH SAYS By HARESH DEOL ENGLISH actor, filmmaker and director Peter Ustinov once said: “Terrorism is the war of the poor against the rich, and war is the terrorism of the rich against the poor.” Such has been the misconception of the men, women and even children who join a particular group, these days in the name of religion, to fulfill a certain agenda. Experts have long dispelled the notion that acts of terror are carried out by the poor and uneducated. History has shown it is the educated and affluent who lead such organisations and brainwash the minds of others through propaganda. It has nothing to do with the poor or economically challenged. It is not even about class or inequality. Osama bin Laden was an engineer from a wealthy Saudi family. Another Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was a trained surgeon. The lead hijacker of the 9/11 attacks in US, Mohamed el-Amir Awad el-Sayed Atta, was an engineer ...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol PEST, menace, imbecile and bodoh . These are among the words often uttered by drivers when a motorcycle zooms past them. Don’t get me wrong. I am a biker myself. I’ve been riding motorcycles ever since I left school and still do. On two wheels, it’s not about completing a journey but about enjoying an adventure. There are motorcyclists, including those on high-powered machines, who deserve a knock on their heads (and I’m being polite) for failing to respect other motorists. Respect, however, works both ways. Motorcyclists in Malaysia are often treated as “second-class citizens” as many drivers tend to disregard the fact those on two wheels have every right to be on the road as other motorists. Drivers complain of bikers who zig-zag dangerously and rempit where possible. But many forget that a motorcyclist is as important as the politician in a luxurious sedan, the clerk in a compact car, the cyclist o...

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The BA of Malaysia (BAM) say it is unwise to place additional pressure on Lee Chong Wei as Malaysians continue to bank on the national shuttler to deliver the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in August.   The national body’s acting president Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin Abd Majid said fans should keep calm and not brush aside Lee’s opponents at the Rio de Janeiro Games which will feature the best in the world,.     Lee got badminton fans elated after winning the Indonesian Open yesterday. His journey to the final earned him enough points to top the world rankings — a position he once held from 2006 to 2014.   “We are happy he is back at the top spot in the world rankings but let’s not get overly hyped up ... let’s not be caught in this (frenzy),” he said.   Al Amin, who is also the chef de mission for the Games, said it was unfair to say Lee was the only person capable of cl...