theborneopost.com

Abdul Karim sad but respects IPC’s decision

Churchill Edward, reporters@theborneopost.com

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is sad but respects the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made on Sunday in London to take away Malaysia’s hosting right for the 2019 World Para Swimming Tournament slated for July 29 to Aug 4 this year in Kuching.
        According to him, Sarawak did not mind Israeli paralympians coming over to Sarawak for the tournament but after being chided by Prime Minister Dr Tun Mahathir Mohammad, the state just had to follow the Malaysian policy of not having diplomatic relationship with Israel.
“Though we are sad that this decision was made, we accept it with an open heart. As of Jan 26, 64 countries have confirmed their participation involving 1,678 athletes and officials.
    “I know that flight and accommodation bookings have been done and a lot of efforts have been put in place to make this international para swimming meet a successful one,” he said.
    “We are sad that IPC has to come to this decision. Sarawak and Kuching City as host city respect this decision which was made pursuant to Malaysia barring the entry and participation of Israel athletes into Malaysia,” he explained.
The decision to bar entry of Israelis is a foreign policy of Malaysia which Sarawak as a state within Malaysia has to respect, he stressed.
Malaysian Hotels Association Sarawak chief Ibrahim Nordin estimated RM1.5 million as potential loss in profit by hotels here due to the cancellation of room bookings.
Ibrahim said the official occupancy report of three hotels picked at random in the city suggested that approximately 2,600 nights were already ‘blocked’.
    “I was told other hotels had also dates (nights) been blocked. We would encounter a four per cent drop in business as compared to previous year (due to the tournament cancellation),” he said, adding that currently he could not provide an exact figure of potential loss in profits.
The two main airlines – MAS and Air Asia – are also in the midst in ascertaining potential loss in profits.

Anthony Kong

        Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) secretary Anthony Kong expressed his disappointment over the cancellation of the 2019 World Para Swimming tournament.
     “I am very sad, hugely disappointed and despaired that we Sarawak lost the rights to host this prestigious meet,” said Kong.
Kong described the tournament as an eye opener and a platform to show to the world that Sarawak can host another major world event besides badminton.
     “We need it desperately to prove our Sarawakian ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban’ (Never Give Up) capabilities. As for the IPC decision, my big heart goes to Sarawak but my head tells me also they are right,” said Kong.
Nevertheless, Asas has to play by the rule by respecting government policy of not having diplomatic relationship with Israel, he added.
      “It is what it is. Rules, regulations, constitutions and governing bodies of all sports have their own guidelines which are there to protect their own bona fide athletes and uphold their own respective sport in the highest esteem irrespective or race, colour, religion and origins.
“Unfortunately, at times it contradicts and is at loggerheads with one’s country’s politics and policy.

Lina Soo

“     We must remember any particular sport has its own rules, regulations and constitutions which reign supreme and at times they contradict with politics and they may be above politics and policy of one’s country,” he said.
        Meanwhile, State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR) president Lina Soo said the matter had been politicised by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Describing the cancellation as tragic, Soo said the PH government had politicised sports at the expense of handicapped people.
        Ironically, she said, Malaysia allowed Israeli cricketers to play in Kuala Lumpur in 1997 when Dr Mahathir was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia but leading the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.


My comments:
It is the political will that decides that 2019 World Para Swimming Tournament can take place or not.  It is the political will of the Sarawak government that can force the Malaya colonial masters  to bend to the will of Sarawakians.  It is the political will of Abang Johari and Abdul Karim, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports to realise the event despite the ruling of federal authority.

       However, they failed to assert as they are ever ready to please and comply to the Malaya colonial masters.  Many Sarawakians are watching and assessing GPS.  We know only too well how these same people who can bend themselves more than 90 degrees to the demand of Malaya colonial masters though they are now in new cloak.  Many are still the same old dogs who are prepared to play the old tricks twice with / without the knowledge that many people are wide awake to the principle of Democracy.  GPS, as most of us see are still so federal-centred, minded and oriented to assert the rights of Sarawak.