THE International Hockey Confederation (FIH) and the Sports Commissioner’s Office have offered sound advice, but the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is ready for war.
FIH, in rejecting the amendments made to the MHC constitution during its EOGM in Johor Baru in October, has opened a can of worms.
An FIH letter, dated Nov 17 and signed by CEO Kelly Fairweather, stated clearly that they did not agree to eight issues in the draft submitted by the MHC.
However, MHC senior vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad is adamant that no changes are needed to please the FIH, as it is an internal matter.
“What I don’t understand is why the FIH wants to meddle with internal matters in MHC, when all the amendments were approved at the EOGM by our members.
“We only need an endorsement from the Sports Commissioner's office as this is a local issue, and the FIH should not interfere in matters arising in our MHC household,” said Nur Azmi.
He was also not worried about the problems that might arise if they do not get the approval of the FIH on their amendments.
“What can they do? Don't award us tournaments? Don't sanction our team for tournaments?
“Let them do what they wish, as the decisions were made in a democratic manner in an EOGM and they must accept our local wishes,” said Nur Azmi.
However, when the sports commissioner's office was contacted, they were shocked with the matter, as they were not informed about the FIH letter when meeting MHC officials to discuss the constitutional amendments.
A statement from the sports commissioner's office read: “When we met the MHC representatives (after the Nov 17 date on the FIH letter), we were not informed about the FIH advice on the amended constitution.
“However, during the discussion, we did advise MHC to have a look at some of the issues, primarily on the issue of women's role in the MHC.
“The decision on women's role in MHC was not properly done during the EOGM, and since an advice from the FIH has suddenly surfaced now, our suggestion is for the MHC to reconsider or review their earlier decisions to avoid any conflict with the FIH.
“MHC can do it by holding an EGM, and only after that will the Sports Commissioner's office endorse changes made to their constitution which are not in conflict with the FIH.”
The major problem was when MHC removed the need for a woman deputy president during its EOGM, as well as set three terms for office bearers while those above 70 can no longer stand for elections.
Fairweather wrote: “In particular I have to point out that the new proposed amended statues do not:
1) Have provisions for the suspension of members.
2) Have provisions for indemnity of officials.
3) Have the age limit for elections.
4) Have a limit on the number of times a person may be elected to a particular office.
5) Have provisions for gender equality (not equality but at least equity).
6) Have the new standard FIH anti-doping clause.
“Furthermore I note that the governing Executive Board is not elected democratically but is appointed by the president, which is not in line with FIH governance principles.
“The MHC elections, supposed to be held by November, has been deferred to January but if MHC goes to war with FIH, the elections will have to be postponed until the constitution is cleaned up.”