Agreeing to disagree

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) general manager M. P. Haridas says the secret to his country’s success in the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is cooperation. Not that there isn’t any squabbling among Malaysian sports officials.

In fact, the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union has come under heavy fire lately for its overstaying and incompetent officials. No less than Malaysian Sports Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein is taking a firm stand in censuring the MAAU for its rigged electoral system which guarantees virtual lifetime terms for officials.

But Haridas says when it comes to getting down to business for flag and country, there is unity. "We agree to disagree," he chuckles. "There’s not always harmony but if the disagreement is constructive, then it’s productive."

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And at the 21st SEA Games last September, Malaysia vaulted to the top of the heap by capturing 111 gold medals – the first time the multi-racial nation wound up first since the biennial event started in 1959. Thailand was second with 103, Indonesia third with 71, Vietnam fourth with 33, and the Philippines fifth with 31.

"We expected to finish with 90 to 95 golds so getting 111 was a pleasant surprise," notes Haridas who was on the Malaysian squad that took eighth place in field hockey at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Among the sports that Malaysia dominated were aquatics (19 golds), bowling (7), equestrian (5), gymnastics (16), squash (4), karate (9), and wushu (6).

Surprisingly, Malaysia took two golds in boxing where the Philippines collected only two silvers and five bronzes.

Haridas says a Cuban coach trained the Malaysian boxers until he was replaced by a Russian a few months before the SEA Games opened. But he doubts that Malaysia will go far in boxing beyond the SEA Games level. "We come from a society where our people are peaceful and not used to suffering," he explains. "A boxer gets hit all the time – Malaysians just aren’t used to that kind of punishment."

In squash, Malaysia swept all four gold medals at stake. The men’s champion Ong Beng Hee, 19, is rated among the world’s top 50 and campaigns in the British circuit. The women’s teenage titlist Nicole David, who won the gold in her class at the last Asian Games, is as unbeatable as Ong.

Malaysia’s success on the playing field was just half the story. Last week, Datuk Hishammuddin announced that the staging of the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur generated a net profit of the equivalent of P135 Million.

Haridas says Malaysia garnered five golds – in swimming, squash, and karate – at the Bangkok Asiad four years ago. In Busan this September, Haridas predicts Malaysia to hit paydirt in badminton, bowling, athletics, rhythmic gymnastics, among others.

In the Malaysian scheme of things, the OCM operates as the umbrella body for all sports organizations. It coordinates the activities of the National Sports Associations (NSAs), the National Sports Council (NSC) which is the government agency funding the training of athletes, and SportExcel – a private foundation that takes care of about 20 young athletes at a cost of some P6.75 Million a year.

The OCM also coordinates the delivery of funds from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to star athletes. For instance, the Olympic Solidarity group provided training grants amounting to $55,000 for 11 athletes in track, aquatics, badminton, cycling, men’s artistic gymnastics, and shooting last year.

Haridas says unless the Philippines wakes up, it will fall deeper in the SEA cellar. Vietnam, the next SEA Games host, is expected to double its efforts, particularly in combat sports. "The Vietnamese have a distinct advantage because of their years of struggle and conflict," notes Haridas. And Singapore is also making big strides – what with the recruitment of under-16 Chinese athletes as naturalized citizens.

"In the last five years, the Philippines has gone down in the sport which it used to dominate – boxing," observes Haridas. "In track, there has been progress among long-distance runners. But I wonder if there will be a new Filipina track queen after Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros."

Malaysia has captured only three Olympic medals since 1956 and like the Philippines, has never won a gold. In 1992, brothers Jalani and Rashid Sidek took the bronze medal in men’s badminton doubles. Rashid tied with three others for fifth place in the men’s singles event and finished in the top eight. In 1996, Rashid, 33, won the bronze in the singles competition and the doubles team of Cheah and Yap settled for the silver after losing to Subagja and Mainaky of Indonesia in the finals.

In contrast, the Philippines has hauled in nine medals – two silvers and seven bronzes since 1928. Five of the nine medals, including the last four, came from boxing.

The OCM holds office in its own building on Jalan Hang Jebat near Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. The seven-storey building was constructed in 1991. The mezzanine and the first and second floors are occupied by the OCM and NSAs. The other floors are leased out to the three-star Grand Olympic Hotel which offers special rates for athletes and sports officials.

From 1981 to 1987, the Philippines ranked higher than Malaysia in the SEA Games. Then, in 1989, Malaysia jumped to second and the Philippines fell to fifth. In 1991, the Philippines wound up a gold shy of tying first place Indonesia as Malaysia tumbled to fourth. In 1993, the Philippines held on to second spot and Malaysia stayed at fifth. In 1995, the Philippines slid to third and Malaysia moved up to fourth.

Since 1997, Malaysia’s progress as a SEA sports power has been phenomenal. Malaysia advanced to third in 1997, to second in 1999, and finally to first last year while the Philippines slumped to fourth and down further to fifth.

Haridas says the OCM is following the guidelines of a strategic plan from 2002 to 2006. Focus is the key to attaining the OCM’s goals. Surely, the Philippines could pick up a few pointers from the OCM particularly as it’s booked to host the 23rd SEA Games in 2005.