Reminder - Today is the last day for submission but you still have the weekend.

On Wednesday 13th.August, we posted the "Framework and Guidelines" for your submission which would be collated and encompassed as a submission to the YB Minister. The dateline set was 22nd.August and the day has arrived. All those who have yet to submit kindly do so, as technically today is the last day.

As today is Friday and the collation work commences on Monday, you could still use the weekend to post your views through the official e-mail. We would appreciate if you can find the time to assists Malaysian Hockey with your ideas, so as Malaysia can yet again be in the forefront of World hockey.

Media Reports: YB Minister is concerned - "Wants proposal in a month".

YB Datuk Ismail Sabri, the Minister of Youth and Sports acted in great speed to meet the Representatives of the 102 former hockey internationals. In a 2 hour meeting on 4th.August, he too was concern where hockey is today compared to the past. He wanted honest opinions beyond what was documented in the open letter.

The 8 former internationals present in the meeting had frank exchanges with the YB Minister. Also present at the meeting was SAP Chairman YBhg Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad.

YB Minister in concluding the meeting wanted a proposal from the 102 former hockey internationals within a month. He is as interested as all of us that Malaysia should be a force in World Hockey.

Below is the various newspaper articles of the meeting:

Kindly "click"the page to enlarge.

Now the hard work starts and everyone input is vital to the success of the PROPOSAL.

Additional Guideline on Submission of Proposal

Yesterday, we posted a subject matter titled " Submission of Proposal to YB Minister - Framework and Guidelines" and we seek your co-operation that you use the blogspot e-mail: formerhockeyinternationals@gmail.com
to submit your inputs as per the outlined framework.

Please do not use the "comment" column under each article as that is specifically related to the subject that was published. Further using the blogspot e-mail, permits us to acknowledge receipt and maintain confidentiality.

Submission of Proposal to YB Minister - Framework and Guidelines

Following our meeting with YB Minister of Youth and Sports, the 102 former hockey internationals were requested to submit a proposal how to bring Malaysian hockey to World Standards.

We are therefore appealing to all the former hockey internationals who signed in support of the open letter to provide your inputs. Others are also welcome.

To facilitate the preparation of the proposal we kindly ask of you to follow the following framework:

• Why is the current performance declining?
• Is there any key strength in current performance despite the decline?
• Recommendations to arrest decline and built upon the current strength.
• Recommendations to uplift hockey to world standards.
• Any other recommendations..

In line with the above framework, there are few guidelines for the submission:

• Dateline: 22 August 2008.
• Please state name and email address for acknowledgement of communication..
• If there is no acknowledgement, kindly re-check with Enbaraj or Azlin..
• Refrain from any personal attacks..
• No obscenity in language.
• .Submissions shall be treated as confidential.
• The team preparing the proposal shall reserve the right to use the information.

Once the draft proposal is prepared we plan to have a discussion/presentation to finalise the proposal.

We look forward to your submission. .

Media Reports - "Unfavourable & Favourable views".

Below are 2 articles from the newspapers, of which one relates to the National Players Hockey Association's Presidents views and the other is that of the Chairman of the Sports Advisory Panel (SAP).

Some may question the wisdom of giving publicity to NPHA's President's view on the matter. The rationale being that the blog is taking a transparent view so as all the 102 former internationals are fully aware of what is happening. We are not expressing any views on the matter other than stating that the former internationals are intelligent enough to know what they are doing.

The 2nd article is from SAP's Chairman who takes the view that such an action by the 102 former internationals is something unprecedented. It is something that was never done before and it shows the interest and commitment of the former internationals.

Please "click" at page to enlarge.

There are other newspaper articles that shall be posted in due course.

Media Reports on the "Open Letter"

One week after delivering to the respective recipients, Enbaraj and Azlin made available the Open Letter and the information of the signatories to the Press. The time gap was given so as it would not catch the recipients by surprise i.e they would have time to study the matter.

The principle is that all parties should get together to ensure that we get back as a force in World hockey. The Press on its part had provided a fair amount of publicity and below are some of the reports.

Kindly "click" to enlarge the view:

Tomorrow we shall post more media articles.

"Posting" problem solved

Yesterday we were troubled by posting problem of the "Signatory Forms". Although we did post a sample but the print was too small to be read. Today we found a way to solve it. Just follow the stated instruction ie "click" and you will get an enlarged version that could be easily viewed.

Problems in posting "Signatory Forms"

Having scanned the executed Signatory Forms and then removing the signatures for reasons of security, we are finding difficulty in loading an appropriate size on the blog. A sample is currently posted but it is near impossible to read the names.

The problem is being attended and we hope to sort it as soon as possible.

"The need for urgent revival of Malaysian Hockey".

It is not easy to maintain a regular communication with the 102 former Malaysian Hockey Internationals and as such this blog has been created. This would update most of them and we hope in the process others would also get to know what is going on.

All letters were delivered to the respective recipients on 23th.July.2008 except for DYMM Sultan of Perak

Following meetings were held:

23th.July.2008 - KSU of Ministry of Youth & Sports
1st.Aug.2008 - DYMM Sultan of Perak
4th.Aug 2008 - YB Minister of Youth & Sports

Insofar as DYMM Sultan of Perak and the KSU of the Ministry, it was formally handing over the "open letter".

As for the YB Minister, he wanted to discuss the letter and seek the opinions of the former internationals. YB Minister requested a full presentation of what were the possible reasons for Malaysia's poor performance and what should be done to revitalise Malaysian hockey to world standards. The Minister wants this presentation in a month's time. Present at the meeting was also the Chairman of Sports Advisory Panel.

Early next week we shall be posting a note in the blog to the 102 former internationals seeking their assistance in the preparation of the presentation. Once we are able to put the draft presentation together, it is important that the former internationals meet and finalise the presentation. We hope others who want to provide their input are most welcome.

For the moment, we enclose the various documents for your attention:

• COVER NOTE
  
  
• "K. Enbaraj & Azlin Fairuz
  on behalf of Former Malaysian Hockey Internationals
  
  23rd July 2008
  
  
  Ref: An Open Letter – “The Need for Urgent Revival of Malaysian Hockey”
  
  On behalf of 102 former Malaysian Hockey Internationals, we enclose :-
  
  · A 2-page Open Letter titled “The need for urgent revival of Malaysian Hockey”.
  · A copy of the 102 names and signatories of former Malaysian Hockey Internationals.
  · List of recipients of the Open Letter.
  
  We organized a signature campaign among the former Malaysian Hockey Internationals and within 4 days, we obtained 102 signatures.
  
  These 102 former Malaysian Hockey Internationals represent hockey players from the era of 1950s to 2000. In the 102, there are 37 Olympians and 29 World Cuppers. Among them are personalities from the age of 80 to 26, inclusive of 9 former National Coaches, 2 former National Team Managers, 10 former National Captains, 1 former World XI player and 10 former Asian All-Stars players.
  
  The wealth of experience of these former internationals bring to the letter is a reflection of the genuine concern of the state of hockey today in Malaysia. The letter is an appeal to all relevant parties to do the needful to ensure that Malaysia is back in the forefront of world hockey.
  
  
  K. Enbaraj Azlin Fairuz"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• OPEN LETTER
  
  Ref: “The Need for Urgent Revival of Malaysian Hockey”
  An Appeal from Former Malaysian Hockey Internationals
  
  "Reaching as far back as the 1950s, Malaysia has consistently had representation in Hockey for the Olympic Games, Asian Games as well as the World Cup. In those early days, despite the stark lack of infrastructure and resources, there were players and officials so committed to the cause that it more than made up for the deficiencies. Numbering among these individuals of caliber are such names as Sultan Azlan Shah, the late Tun Abdul Razak, the late Datuk Seri Aziz Durairatnam, Tan Sri P. Alagendra, the late Datuk Seri Dr Moreira, Datuk Vijayanathan, the late S. Satgunam, Zain Azahari, Tan Sri Noordin Hassan, Wilfred Vias, Mike Sheperdson, Lawrence Van Huizen, Datuk Ho Koh Chye, Datuk Yogeswaran, Yang Siow Meng, Titus Havelock, A. Francis, Sri Shanmuganathan, Datuk Poon Fook Loke, R. Ramakrishnan, Nor Saiful, and Mirnawan Nawawi. Naturally, there have been many others that worked from their hearts and souls and are just as responsible for keeping the Malaysian flag flying in the world arena of hockey.
  
  For certain there were times when qualification to the World Cup or Olympics did not materialize, but even then the progress of the National Juniors always provided a ‘ray of hope’. Their achievements in keeping abreast with world hockey signified their readiness to don national colours and re-attain Malaysia’s status in international hockey.
  
  Today, Malaysian hockey has at its disposal far better infrastructure, resources, as well as support from the Government. Yet despite the improvements, Malaysia’s position within international hockey has declined significantly at every level. All of the national teams, be they the Seniors, Juniors, or the Under-16’s, have performed at such steadily deteriorating standards that Malaysia is now placed outside the main artery of international hockey. To compound what can only be referred to as an unmitigated disaster in terms of decline, even at her current position, Malaysia is finding it a struggle to take on the ‘minnow’ nations of hockey.
  
  It can be said that the situation has reached a critical level, where the future stars from various age groups may not provide the long established ‘chain of supply’ into the National Team. This folly has been instigated by the action of the Administrators of hockey who, in all their wisdom, have seen fit to abdicate the full responsibility of the Age Group tournaments and Champion School’s tournament. As such the grass-root development of hockey is left in limbo.
  
  Adding further bricks to the wall, hockey is now caught up in a web of allegations both on and off the field. Despite the presence of a police investigation into these matters, the damage to the image of the sport has already been done.
  
  With things as they stand, the future of Malaysian hockey is bleak however, not irreparably so. The sport itself stands at proverbial crossroads, where change is necessary in order to revive it from the slump it has suffered. Any improvement to the dire status quo can only be facilitated if we have a team of officials who not only love the game of hockey dearly, but also are prepared to sacrifice their time in commitment to the cause. This must be done in tandem with properly planned strategy in the intention of revitalizing hockey across all levels and installing the structure that can create world class players and officials.
  
  This appeal from former Malaysian hockey internationals is done for the love of the country, and in the hope that the nation’s flag is always hoisted to fly proudly in the international hockey arena. To achieve this dream, first Malaysia must win back its representation in such tournaments.
  
  Therefore, we humbly look to the Cabinet Committee on Sports, the National Sports Council, Malaysian Hockey Federation, and indeed, all the supporters of hockey, to intervene with the right people at the right positions, and ensure that the standard of hockey is returned to its former glory, so that some day it may even surpass it. It is a matter of national pride that Malaysia re-attain her position as one of the top teams in the world.
  
  Thank you."
  
  
  For and on behalf of former Malaysian Hockey Internationals.
  
  K. Enbaraj Azlin Fairuz
  Date: 18th July 2008

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• LIST OF RECIPIENTS
  
  Ref: “The Need for Urgent Revival of Malaysian Hockey”
  
  OPEN LETTER TO THE FOLLOWING :
  
  1.
  DYMM SULTAN AZLAN SHAH
  President of Honour
  Malaysian Hockey Federation
  
  
  2.
  YAB Datuk Seri Najib Razak
  Deputy Prime Minister &
  Chairman of Cabinet Committee on Sports
  
  
  3.
  YB Dato’ Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob
  Minister of Youth and Sports
  
  
  4.
  Y Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor
  President
  Malaysian Hockey Federation
  
  
  5.
  Y Bhg Dato’ Mohd Yasin bin Mohd Saleh
  Ketua Setiausaha
  Ministry of Youth and Sports
  
  
  6.
  Y Bhg Datuk Zolkeples Embong
  Director General
  National Sports Council
  
  
  7.
  YAM Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar
  President
  Olympic Council of Malaysia
  
  
  8.
  Y Bhg Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad
  Chairman
  Sports Advisory Panel
  
  
  9.
  Affiliates of Malaysian Hockey Federation

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• 102 SIGNATORIES ( signatures have been removed for security reasons )
  
  
  
  
  Click to enlarge