ID :
19993
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 14:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19993
The shortlink copeid
LAOS SEA GAMES: MALAYSIA LEFT OUT OF DONORS LIST? By Zulhilmi Supaat
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- While most of the Asean countries are helping Laos, the 2009 Sea Games host, in cash or kind for the 25th edition of the Games, Malaysia has been left out of the contributors list.
The reason -- lack of a proper mechanism on who should initiate the effort
to help Laos.
"On Malaysia's part, who should take the initiative to help Laos? The Youth
and Sports Ministry, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) or Kok Chi?" OCM
honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi said when contacted by Bernama here
Wednesday.
He was asked to comment on whether the Laos National Sports Committee
(LNSC)
had sought help from the OCM for the Games preparation.
A check by Bernama on several Laos Sea Games websites found that most of
the
Asean countries are contributing to the cash-strapped Laos which will host the
bienniel event in Vientiane, on Dec 13-21 next year.
According to the websites, so far more than RM300 million have been
provided
by the international community for the poorest country in the region.
Sieh said he had visited Laos twice since early this year and had conducted
several courses and seminars for the LNSC.
"That's all I can say about Malaysia's contribution to Laos for now
because I'm not in the capacity to pledge anything, whether in cash or kind for
LNSC," he said.
He said the Laotian Sports Ministry had signed a memorandum of
understanding
(MOU) with Malaysia's Youth and Sports Ministry early last year on cooperation
for the Games but since then, there had been no follow-up.
According to the websites, Laos' closest neighbour, Vietnam , is one of the
major contributors by offering its expertise in information technology (IT),
including installing the new electronic equipment at the new football and indoor
stadiums.
Vietnam, the 2005 Sea Games host, together with Thailand will also help
Laos in the doping control during the Games.
In fact, Vietnam has pledged to help Laos build the athletes village
in
Vientiane.
Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry will spend about RM10 million to
renovate the national football stadium, tennis courts and the sports
department's indoor stadium.
The ministry will also pay about RM600,000 for the training of referees and
athletes.
Meanwhile Singapore has planted 500 trees around the new footballl stadium
and started promoting the Games last month.
The reason -- lack of a proper mechanism on who should initiate the effort
to help Laos.
"On Malaysia's part, who should take the initiative to help Laos? The Youth
and Sports Ministry, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) or Kok Chi?" OCM
honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi said when contacted by Bernama here
Wednesday.
He was asked to comment on whether the Laos National Sports Committee
(LNSC)
had sought help from the OCM for the Games preparation.
A check by Bernama on several Laos Sea Games websites found that most of
the
Asean countries are contributing to the cash-strapped Laos which will host the
bienniel event in Vientiane, on Dec 13-21 next year.
According to the websites, so far more than RM300 million have been
provided
by the international community for the poorest country in the region.
Sieh said he had visited Laos twice since early this year and had conducted
several courses and seminars for the LNSC.
"That's all I can say about Malaysia's contribution to Laos for now
because I'm not in the capacity to pledge anything, whether in cash or kind for
LNSC," he said.
He said the Laotian Sports Ministry had signed a memorandum of
understanding
(MOU) with Malaysia's Youth and Sports Ministry early last year on cooperation
for the Games but since then, there had been no follow-up.
According to the websites, Laos' closest neighbour, Vietnam , is one of the
major contributors by offering its expertise in information technology (IT),
including installing the new electronic equipment at the new football and indoor
stadiums.
Vietnam, the 2005 Sea Games host, together with Thailand will also help
Laos in the doping control during the Games.
In fact, Vietnam has pledged to help Laos build the athletes village
in
Vientiane.
Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry will spend about RM10 million to
renovate the national football stadium, tennis courts and the sports
department's indoor stadium.
The ministry will also pay about RM600,000 for the training of referees and
athletes.
Meanwhile Singapore has planted 500 trees around the new footballl stadium
and started promoting the Games last month.
