LEAVING BEHIND A STRONGER OCM
Outgoing Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar talks with NSTP Sport’s Farah Azharie on his interesting days as a top sports official, his successor, his future and his love for Cuban cigars
Question: You have said you have no regrets, leaving after 20 years. What was the biggest lesson you have learnt?
Answer: I’ve enjoyed every minute of it (with OCM). We have built an organisation from something small into something that I think is quite significant in terms of assets and achievements. I’m very happy to leave the OCM in good shape.
The biggest lesson is the importance of teamwork in an organisation like an NGO (non-governmental organisation) because of the different background of everyone, from different sports, different ages.
Q: Share with us some of your fondest memories as OCM president.
A: Fondest memory, well, of course my very first CDM (chefde-mission) in 1988, which was also my very first Olympics, in Seoul, South Korea. (It was) very memorable and that’s when the famous Ben Johnson doping scandal happened and then there was Flo Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner).
In the middle of my career, the Commonwealth Games here (in Malaysia) in 1998, not just the Games itself, it was spectacular, but because we moved the Games from something very small, essentially 10 individual sports to a 15-sport programme.
The lead-up to the Commonwealth Games, the bidding (process) — that was also an exciting period. More recently, being the President of the Commonwealth Games Federaton and presiding at the Glasgow Games (2014) where everyone remembers me for my ability or inability to open the Queen’s Baton to get the speech out and of course, being made an IOC (International Olympic Committee) member was a very special recognition for me, something that I really treasure. Q: Share with us the impact that you’ve made as OCM president.
A: We raised the international profile of OCM to one of the most respected NOCs (National Olympic Committee) certainly in Asia. We have managed to get a lot more education and understanding among our members and we run our courses on a very regular basis. Our NOA (National Olympic Academy) session, which we run every year, is very much sought after and I think, the envy of a lot of other NOCs around the world.
I think that there’s a greater awareness with the general public of what OCM do. I think that we’ve worked well with the government and co-operated well to produce some outstanding athletes at Olympic, Sea Games and Commonwealth level. I also think that we’ve managed to get the message across that it’s not all about elite sports but it’s also about developing the grassroots of your sports and having good programmes in your organisations.
OCM are in much better shape (financially) than in 1986 when I became the VP (vice-president). We’ve moved from an organisation having RM100,000 in the bank to having our own building, hotel, arena, a museum and a trust fund for athletes and NSAs (National Sports Associations) of RM20 million. Financially, OCM have done well.
Q: Is it stressful being the OCM president? What helps ease the tension?
A: I wouldn’t say it’s stressful but it causes stress occasionally, but it’s not continual stress. I think that the benefits outweigh the burdens — the benefits of watching the success of our athletes. Like when I was involved in squash (World Squash Federation President 1989-1996), watching your plans mature and your objectives fulfilled. For example, Ong Beng Hee becoming the first world junior champion and then the next year followed by Datuk Nicol David, twice in a row. You say ”Wow, we’ve achieved what we wanted to.” Then, she goes on to become eight-time world champion, really something phenomenal. There’s nothing better than going to a Games and watching Malaysians do well and the flag flying... That helps ease the tension.
Q: It has been reported that you are backing Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria to replace you. What is it about him that makes him so suitable for the job? Essentially what are the main qualities needed to be the OCM president?
A: No, I did not say I was backing (him). I have to reiterate that this is a democracy and I don’t think that as an outgoing, retiring president, I should start saying who I think should be president. Datuk Seri Norza is my deputy president and other members are very capable of running OCM and continue to run OCM. Norza is a very good deputy because he’s stepped in every time I needed him to step in, whether I’m overseas or not available. I think patience, diplomacy and integrity are the main qualities (needed to be OCM president). Anyone in any sort of position of responsibility should have these attributes. It is the way you behave and the way you make decisions. I think that building trust and teamwork is very important, and you need to be creative, assertive, and adaptable to the new changes in the world.
Q: Though you will be making way as OCM president, you said you still want to continue as SportExcel chairman. Is there any particular reason for it?
A: One reason is it’s my baby as the founder chairman, it’s my idea and I don’t think SportExcel has arrived at where it finally needs to be. I think with more funding, we can do much more. We are now beginning to understand and are working on the need for Malaysian athletes, young athletes particularly, who want to be on the world stage and need to have that international exposure.
Q: After you’ve ended your duties at OCM, and all other sports obligations, what are your plans?
A: I’d like to play a bit more golf. I’d like to travel and enjoy other cultures and sightseeing, enjoy doing things besides sitting in conference/meeting rooms. I hope that I can have more time for my close friends. I still have business responsibilities as Chairman of Syarikat Pesaka Antah Sdn Bhd which is a private family owned company. Most of my holidays over the last 20 years have been associated with sports but the most enjoyable ones are the ones where I have been a pure spectator.
Q: Share with us the person who made a huge impression on you.
A: My father, because he was an avid sportsman and had a wonderful sense of humour which is important in life. Also his patience and diplomacy and his compassion for his fellow human beings. Those are the qualities that I admire and he’s made a big impression and I try to follow a lot of what he stood for.
Q: What do you hope to see from Malaysian sports in five years’ time?
A: Of course like everyone – that elusive Olympic gold medal. But more importantly I’d like to see the establishment of a better dispute resolution process in sport. OCM, together with the Kuala Lumpur Regional Arbitration Centre (KLRCA), have advocated the establishment of a Malaysia Sports Tribunal (MST). It is modelled on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It will cost the Government nothing, as the KLRCA, already an officially appointed and recognised hearing site for CAS, have agreed to fund the MST. The sports arbitrators will be experts in sports and will be dispensing justice equitably, fairly, quickly and cheaply. In fact many sports leaders have already been through the special courses conducted by KLRCA. The MST is actually ready to commence immediately. The Government should take up this offer by KLRCA and give the MST its official blessing. This will be good for all involved in sport and will relieve the law courts of dealing with many issues it is not capable of resolving. Sports people seek justice and fairness, not legal remedies.
Q: What are your favourite past-times and what is something you can’t do without? A: A favourite past-time of mine is smoking cigars and chatting with friends. I like Cuban cigars. Everyone says it’s bad for you but it’s 100% natural product. You don’t inhale it and cigar smokers will only smoke it once they are relaxed and have the time. It’s not addictive. I can go for days without it. I can’t go without sleep. I enjoy my sleep. Sometimes I get enough which is about six-seven hours but I prefer to go on a bit more because I like to just lie in the extra hour, stay awake thinking about anything and everything. My favourite food is ice cream, chocolates, durian. My favourite TV series is “House of Cards” and I’m in the middle of “Resurrection”. And of course the sports programmes. I would not go a day without watching something on sports. I always watch the rugby channel and try not to miss the rugby internationals. I used to watch a lot of cricket but I found that it was taking so much time. I watch a bit of golf and I like to watch the roundup of all the sports, just to get a view of what’s happening in the international arena. I’m one of these people who go to the backpage of the newspaper first.