Tag: Zainudin Nordin

Remember This Sylvia Lim Election Rally Warning On FAS Being Headed By Politicians?

In light of the current saga involving the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), and the arrest of Zainuddin Nordin, the last Government-appointed president of the association, it is timely to revisit Sylvia Lim’s rally speech during the 2015 General Election.

Ms Lim, who is the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC and chairman of the opposition Workers’ Party, spoke of how the ruling People’s Action Party “infiltrates every aspect of life” here in Singapore, including sports.

“The PAP wants Singaporeans to be dependent on them. But there is more than enough talent in the private sector to drive things,” Ms Lim said in her speech in Jalan Besar. “In fact, Singapore may be able to achieve better results if the PAP would get out of certain areas.”

She then cited the example of the FAS and how it had been headed by political appointees who were invariably PAP MPs, even as the standards and performance of Singapore football “nosedived”.

Here is the extract of her speech (watch from 4.20 minutes onwards):

Thirdly, the WP differs from the PAP because we do not think that the government should infiltrate every aspect of life. The PAP obviously thinks that they should control everything.

The PAP places government representatives in all areas of Singapore life, including sports, business and professional groups.

The PAP wants Singaporeans to be dependent on them. But there is more than enough talent in the private sector to drive things. In fact, Singapore may be able to achieve better results if the PAP would get out of certain areas.

Let’s take sports. Since we are in Jalan Besar GRC, let’s talk about football!

In the early days of Singapore’s nationhood, the Singapore football team was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Can you imagine that in 1966, Singapore was 4^th in the Asian Games, behind only Burma, Iran and Japan? 4^th in the whole of Asia, not just South East Asia!

In the 1970s, the whole nation was rivetted behind our “Boys in Blue” in their quest to win the Malaysia Cup. Everyone had football fever, not just the usual soccer fans, but even grandmothers and housewives too. I remember as a young child, diligently cutting out newspaper articles and pictures of our footballers, and keeping my own scrap book. We fought so hard and mightily, and had bitter disappointments. But finally, in 1977, Singapore beat Penang 3-2 to become Malaysia Cup champions. And I am so proud that the man who headed home the winning goal is here with us tonight, as my personal driver!

In those days, the Football Association of Singapore was headed by people who were not politicians. They were passionate about the game, and relied on their own networks to bring in coaches and technical expertise. They even poured in their own money at times to achieve their dreams.

Where is Singapore soccer today?

According to the rankings by football’s world governing body, FIFA, Singapore dropped from no. 70 in the world in 1993 to a new low this year of 157. We are classified by FIFA as one of the “worst movers” down the rankings. What went wrong?

The FAS Constitution states that all council members shall first be appointed by a government minister before being confirmed by election. For the last 20 years, the Minister has placed a PAP MP in charge of the football association. Looking at how our rankings have nose-dived over the last 20 years, is this policy working? The Sports Minister should be committing hara kiri!

I am not belittling the efforts of our current footballers and coaches. It’s the structure I’m questioning.

Now FIFA has been critically looking at the structure of FAS, as it believes officials of football associations should be freely elected. Just 2 days ago, on September 1st, FIFA told our FAS to put their internal elections on hold over possible government interference.

It is embarrassing that it takes an international body to highlight a problem that has been simmering for so long. It is time for Singaporeans to take charge of what we care about. Let our passion take us to greatness. We have done it before, and we can do it again!

Power has made the PAP more and more arrogant. They think they can tell us who should represent us – not just in Parliament, but also in sports, and even in business groups and the professions. They want to control every aspect of life. If we become totally dependent on the PAP, how can Singapore be a dynamic nation?

This election, we must bring the power back to the people. Send a strong message to the PAP that Singaporeans want to be free from their arrogance, their control, and their threats.

Source: https://publichouse.sg

April 27, 2017
Damanhuri Abas: Scandals Show That High Salary Is Not The Answer To Eradicate Corruption

The trail of scandals spanning just the last decade along the corridors of power, sadly results from the chronic malaise of institutionalised governance when a single dominant party rule continues unabated.

We had the following scandals, CEO of NFK, TT Durai in 2005, Edwin Yeo of CPIB in 2008, Peter Lim Chief of SCDF in 2013, Lim Cheng Ho of MFA in 2014, Bernard Lim Yong Soon of NParks in 2014, CEO of NKF, Edmond Kwok 2016, and most recently, Kong Hee and Friends of City Harvest Church, 2017. Just to list a few of them.

And we also had the personal indiscretion of PAP MPs in the case of Speaker of Parliament Mr Micheal Palmer and the infamous affair involving PAP MP for Bukit Batok that happened only last year, Mr David Ong and his married grassroots woman volunteer.

Now we have the latest scandal involving none other than a former Mayor and PAP MP Zainudin Nordin further reminding the people to seriously relook at all PAP leaders. They are not as clean as their white garment looks.

The list of corruptions in their ranks and files of cronies as well as their leaders are undeniable facts and not fake news. It is crystal clear now to all Singaporeans that the logic of high pay and incorruptible public officers or leaders are hollow PAP sloganeering promising leaders of integrity and merit but delivering otherwise.

Will the PAP reform and correct themselves? Most unlikely as the signs are showing the opposite, seen from the constitutional amendments on the Elected Presidency to the most recent clipping of further Presidential powers passed in parliament.

We are even seeing more reduction of space for critical input and feedback which are necessary and healthy developments needed for reform and progress in a maturing democracy. They in fact, do the reverse to entrench their unchallenged controlling power. They still prefer to trust their own self-checking and the above samplings of scandals suffices to discredit it.

All hegemonic power feels threatened by the natural God ordained system of check and balance. Their obsession with perpetual and absolute control will become their very undoing. History recalls many past powers wanting to remain so even though their time is up. Eventually they went astray falling from grace on their own highway of luxury and greed.

Singaporeans therefore must do our part by intervening to stop this slippery decline down the slope of democratic regression happening before our very eyes. The only way to do so, is to put into parliament more oppositions to raise the vital questions that they themselves will not. The longer we delay, the tougher it becomes, as they will resort to all machavillian means within their vast controlling disposal to ensure their hegemony remains forever.

The stakes are very high. It is about our believe in the Singaporean spirit to rise up to collectively remake and better our citizen’s deal. To share what we have with each other, to not leave anyone behind and to demand from our elected leaders, service and priority to the people and not their vested crony interest. The scandals are reminders of what is wrong in our society and for us to collectively act together as one united people to affect that vital redirection for our beloved nation.

Singaporeans must realise that the only constant is change. Ours is past due. The People needs a New Deal with a very fresh and vibrant New face of real Hope, Integrity, Honesty, Courage and Humility. God-willing, together we can make it happen.

Source: Damanhuri Bin Abas

April 27, 2017
Game Over, Winston

IN BETWEEN nasi ambeng and satay on Thursday evening, representatives of National Football League clubs explored a proposal to set up a café to raise money for their teams. The 24 sides playing in two divisions of the NFL are running on annual budgets of between $6,000 and $16,000.

The higher figure belongs to Jungfrau Punggol FC, but it is an exception because the team owner is Salman Abdullah, who happens to run Padi@Bussorah’s restaurant. In reality, the average budget for the 24 amateur teams is about $8,000. They are struggling, which is unforgivable, and an embarrassment to the Football Association of Singapore.

Why so?

Well, because while the teams’ representatives were cracking their heads on how to generate revenue to keep their sides playing in the NFL, Commercial Affairs Department officers were in the midst of raiding the FAS offices.

At the heart of the CAD investigation is a $500,000 cheque that Tiong Bahru Football Club chairman Bill Ng wrote to the FAS, who then donated the money to the ASEAN Football Federation. What it is for is immaterial, but details have been reported in the media over the last few days.

What matters, though, is why did the FAS allow half a million dollars to benefit a non-Singapore football organisation when the money could have been used to help struggling local NFL clubs?

This is a serious dereliction of duty by FAS general secretary Winston Lee, who is Singapore’s top football administrator. He made the unilateral decision to allow the donation to go to the AFF because he contended the FAS Council did not have to be informed about it.

But the FAS’ constitution defines the Council as the association’s supreme body. Its primary responsibility is to ensure Singapore football is managed with integrity and not fall into disrepute, the kind of which has got Winston and, by extension, the FAS into a tangle.

The FAS Council hires the general secretary but when it is oblivious to what its employee has been up to, the roof inevitably caves. Should anyone, therefore, be surprise at the sorry state of Singapore football today, especially the S-League? The dramatic slide from top ASEAN team to near minnows began under Winston’s watch, after he assumed his current post in 2008. National youth teams also floundered and flopped.

But there is a silver lining.

With the CAD hauling up Winston for questioning, including Bill and two others, his tenure as general secretary is all but over.

It does not matter whether he is found complicit in any wrongdoing or not, but the new Council, when it is elected on April 29, must release him. Its mandate from voting members is to overhaul Singapore football and reverse the game’s dive and it must stay true to this mission. This means also ridding what other rot that has taken root in the secretariat and filling it with more capable staff.

Many were hopeful that the election of new office bearers will trigger Winston’s exit and those closely linked to him. But the events of the past week that culminated in the CAD action, which came as a complete shock, are now forcing the issue.

My only gripe: Why did it take so long for matters to reach this stage for real good to finally come upon Singapore football?

Source: http://iandecotta.com

April 25, 2017
ASEAN Football Federation Contradicts FAS Regarding $500,000 Donation By Bill Ng

The Asean Football Federation (AFF) has contradicted earlier statements by the Football Association of Singapore regarding a $500,000 donation by Bill Ng.

The FAS had previously said that it was former FAS president Zainudin Nordin, who had approached Ng with a proposal to support the AFF’s Football Management System (FMS), and that Ng had decided to donate the money directly to AFF through a soccer club that he owns.

“It is clear that the amount of $500,000 was never meant to be donated to the FAS or any Singapore footballing activity… This was not a case of FAS accepting a donation and thereafter channeling the amount to AFF instead of using it for local football.” – FAS

FAS provided a quote which it claimed was from“an AFF spokesman” saying:“We are thankful to our donors and partners who have come onboard to support this new programme, including one of the FA Singapore NFL clubs who donated S$500,000 towards the system.”

Team Game Changers which is led by Ng and will be contesting the FAS elections on April 29, issued a four-page statement yesterday to refute the FAS’ assertions. Read their press statement here: http://www.theindependent.sg/we-are-here-to-serve-singapore-football.

The following is a press release by the AFF in full.

—
PETALING JAYA (17 April 2017) – As a result of various queries from the media on the subject of the FMS, the AFF would like to clarify particularly on the system.

The Asean Football Federation (AFF) Football Management System is an initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of football associations and clubs which will then better position them to achieve success in key result areas including but not limited to income generation, information technology, corporate governance, and facilities utilization, among others.

The sharing of resources among football associations in this region will strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at raising the standards of football management in Southeast Asia. We are in the last phase of preparations and we expect to launch the system within the next nine to 12 months.

The AFF Council members were informed at the 3 Council Meeting held on 6 December 2015, that the FA Singapore had donated a sum of SGD500,000 on 4 November 2015 as a payment to develop the System. The Council recorded its thanks and appreciation to FA Singapore for their effort to make the project a reality.

Source: www.theindependent.sg

April 18, 2017
Zainudin Nordin Has Better Chance Of Joining FIFA Council

The path into the Fifa Council may have just become easier for Zainudin Nordin.

The outgoing president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has made known his desire to run for a spot in Fifa’s top decision making body, and was slated to challenge three other men from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) – Chinese Football Association general secretary Zhang Jian, former Iranian Football Federation president Ali Kafashian Naeni and Qatar Football Association (QFA) vice-president Saoud Al-Mohannadi – for two positions.

With less than two weeks before the AFC Congress on Sept 27 in Goa, there has been no official word from Fifa on its next course of action over Al-Mohannadi.

This comes after its Ethics Committee recommended that Al-Mohannadi be banned for at least two years and six months for a failure to properly cooperate and provide truthful information to the investigatory chamber in the framework of an investigation unrelated to the awarding of the 2022 Fifa World Cup to Qatar.

A Fifa spokesman told The New Paper that the organisation “can’t comment on potential scenarios”, but sources suggest that Al-Mohannadi could drop out of the race.

With Zhang backed by the East Asian Football Federation, he is believed to be a shoo-in for one of the two spots, leaving Zainudin (inset) to battle it out with Kafashian for the remaining slot available on the Fifa Council.

The FAS president told TNP that there will be no jet-setting around the continent to campaign, and he is not assuming anything with regard to Al-Mohannadi’s situation.

“That is between the Fifa Ethics Committee and him, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter. I’m just focused on my candidacy and putting forward what I believe in, and can bring to the table,” he said.

“I don’t have the kind of resources like some (other candidates in the past) do, and I campaign on my ability and the limited resources that I have.

“I will write to all Member Associations of AFC to tell them who I am and what I stand for, and I will use the internet and social media to communicate how I can value add to the Council,”

Zainudin’s candidacy will leverage Singapore’s transparent and clean reputation, focusing on ethics and governance. These are factors he believes are vital, as Fifa aims to close the chapter on the reign of its former president Sepp Blatter, who is now mired in corruption investigations.

“The FAS has been, at least for the last three years, in the top three National Sports Associations in Singapore, based on Sport Singapore’s governance audits that look at systems, processes and transparency, and that’s something I’m proud of,” said Zainudin, who will step down as president when the association conducts its first election, which is targeted to be held before the end of 2016.

“Systems and processes are very important for any organisation because that allow its leader to function freely and look at the important bigger picture.

“Singapore is known for its systems and processes, and that is one of the key reasons why we are clean. It may be tedious to implement, but it’s a vital step.”

Zainudin is part of the AFC’s Governance Reform Task Force that has already implemented recommendations of a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

“We’ve already installed similar processes in the AFC, system that govern procurement, finance, appointments, ethics, appeals, and even whistle blowing. It is something that we should be proud of,” he said.

“Asean is a part of Asia, and it can be a leader in new things, like the Asean Super League (ASL), something that Asean and even the world can look forward to,” said Zainudin who spearheads the Asean Football Federation committee driving the ASL project.

Zainudin will reveal his manifesto in the week ahead.

Source: www.tnp.sg

September 18, 2016