NGOs: Top officials must quit

Ahmad Nazli A Manaf (right), secretary of the coalition of NGOs, with Mohd Arafat Muhammad (centre) handing over the memorandum to BAM general manager Kenny Goh yesterday. — Picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

 

 

THERE has been another strong message from the public to the BA of Malaysia (BAM). About 200 people from a coalition of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) demanded that the top management of the BAM, including president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh, resign and stop blaming others for the association's failures.

The protestors, calling themselves Gabungan NGO CENTRAKL, turned up at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday. Mohd Arafat Muhammad, secretary, of the coalition, handed over a memorandum, which also touched on other matters affecting BAM and Malaysian badminton, to BAM general manager Kenny Goh.

The fans asked the present BAM officials to make way honourably and allow a new set of office bearers to take over.
They also want BAM to put its house in order and sort out the internal problems which saw the sacking of secretary P. Ganga Rao. They feel that this has affected the performances of the players.

The protestors urged BAM to unearth new talent and focus on making Malaysia a world class badminton nation again.

They also called for a thorough post-mortem to identify the reasons for the failures of the Thomas Cup team.

Arafat was accompanied by Gabungan NGO Malaysia vice president Datin Reny Rahayu Ishak and public complaints bureau chief Ahmad Nazli Manaf.

"We represent various NGOs and the public on the whole and want badminton to progress in a healthy environment in the country," said Arafat.

"There will be speculations that someone else who has ill feelings towards the current management is behind the gathering. We are only here for the nation's cause."

The NGOs have sent a strong message and Nadzmi should take it seriously. Kenny declined to comment on the issue

NST