Don T Penalise Brutal Honesty Minister

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Congratulations, Government of Malaysia, for saving the country from a potentially disastrous attempt at hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, thanks to the quick-thinking decision of an astute Cabinet.
Thank you, Madani government, for finally listening to the voice of reason and the nation, and for refusing to undertake a futile venture which would have arguably benefitted a few financially but inflicted suffering on many.
Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh could have taken that bow too had she not supported this ludicrous proposition well before it got to the Cabinet.
The offer by the Commonwealth Games Federation last July to the Olympic Council of Malaysia should have been politely sent back the minute it got past her doors at the sports ministry.
But instead, the enticing proposal was mulled over and allowed to take root somewhat.
The fledgling sports minister, thrust into a portfolio that’s alien to her DNA, had been unwittingly forced into listening to the advice of so-called erudite sports officials, many of whom are, metaphorically speaking, whitewashed tombstones – white on the outside, but rotting on the inside.
But if there is one person whom Hannah can look to for good, honest and sensible advice, it surely has to be her sports commissioner, Suhardi Alias.
In my lifetime as a sportswriter, I have not known of any sports ministry official who has bravely gone against bureaucratic red tape, in this context by openly and unequivocally describing the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s intention to host the Games, as “shocking, financially risky, and short-sighted.”
That this startling, but honest and accurate, deduction came after being privy to the minister’s decision to put the matter before the Cabinet for perusal must surely speak volumes of Suhardi’s conviction to save Malaysia from further abuse of our dwindling financial resources.
It’s people like Suhardi whom the country’s civil service needs as leaders and role models, not the sycophants who live at the feet of their ministers and bosses, and worship the ground their masters walk on.
But what is even more disturbing is news from a reliable source in the sports ministry that Suhardi is very likely to be penalised for his outburst of honesty which triggered a crusade against hosting the Games.
Word has it that he will be replaced as sports commissioner, and as he is quite highly qualified, I suppose the question of him being reduced to a janitor or a canteen supervisor wouldn’t be in the minister’s plans.
But he might as well be one if he’s going to be thrust into a role that may merely give him the aura of power because of his grade without allowing him to play to his strengths.
That would be sad because when confronting career-defining situations, Hannah would need credible and honest officials like Suhardi in her corner, rather than the toadying parasites whose grovelling would only be detrimental to her political image.
Take the recent rumpus over the Games offer as a case in point. It was obvious that Hannah was ill-advised. Inevitably, aspersions would have been cast on the minister’s motives as well.
Which is why it is always wise to have people like Suhardi beside you in prickly situations like this for the right context and proper advice.
True, the sports commissioner may have breached government protocols by not seeking the minister’s approval before sharing his purported brash views with Frankie D’Cruz of FMT. And while the renaissance historian and politician Machiavelli would have been pleased with Suhardi’s methods, DAP politician Hannah, however, certainly wasn’t.
Hannah has three years left in her tank before the next general election, and so far, she hasn’t covered as much ground in sports as in the youth wing of her portfolio. Perhaps her focus has been the youth from day one, and understandably so because of its high political dividends.
In the impending three years, Hannah is almost certain to be put to the test, quite likely as early as after the 2024 Paris Olympics in August, to either claim glory for her Road to Gold (RTG) project, or face the brunt of criticisms for a possible Road to Gagal (failure) catastrophe.
In the face of failure, an honest advisor like Suhardi would advise the minister to take accountability for it, and not blame the weather, the opposition, or anything or anyone else but herself.
What the minister needs right now, is not people telling her how great a job she is doing – when at best it has been rather middling- but a team who can show her how to achieve greatness by being brutally honest.
And as for that fear of Suhardi being removed as sports commissioner or having his authority diminished, let’s hope that it was just based on hearsay or mere speculation, because it would really be unfortunate if it was based on facts. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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