Tun Hanif Omar’s little-known legacy in badminton and shooting

THERE was a time in the early 1980s that when star shuttler Datuk Misbun Sidek decided to do the disappearing act and refused to be found – even the Inspector General of Police could not track him down!

This was the notion among the media and fans alike, with due respect to the late Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar.

As the IGP who happened to be the senior vice-president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) at that time, Hanif was perhaps being considerate.

Hanif, who passed away on April 20 at the age of 85 due to kidney disease, served as the second in command to the late Tan Sri Khir Johari at the BAM for almost four years.

In managing the BAM, Hanif did not pull rank.

For the nation’s top cop known for his no-nonsense reputation, Hanif chose to be a father figure to the shuttlers.

His tenure coincided with the emergence of the Sidek brothers, with Misbun known to be a maverick, the sensational rebel with a cause.

When Misbun decided to leave the national training camp at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in 1982 ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Hanif gave the shuttler the benefit of the doubt.

As the chairman of the coaching and training committee, Hanif kept an open mind and allowed Misbun the freedom to choose his training methods, including jogging under the sweltering heat.

Far from acting as a superior in the hierarchy, Hanif put aside his police badge and uniform for the greater interest of the game.

When Datuk Razif-datuk Seri Jalani Sidek eked out the historic men’s doubles win in the Allengland in March 1982, defeating Dan Travers and Billy Gilliland of Scotland to end the nation’s 11-year drought, they were given a heroes’ welcome three days later.

Basking in the glow of victory with a congratulatory message via facsimile from Tun Musa Hitam as Deputy Prime Minister, Razifjalani were driven from the Subang Airport to their family home in Banting by a motorcade with police escort, arranged of course by Hanif.

Years later, Hanif’s name was bandied about as a potential president of the BAM, but the presidency eventually went to Tan Sri Nadzmi Salleh in 2000.

On top of easing the burden on Khir, Hanif did not play the bad cop role in performing his duties as chairman of the Thomas Cup committee and team manager in 1982.

It was also under Hanif’s watch that Misbun turned professional when he became only the second Asian shuttler after Prakash Padukone to come under the IMG wings in 1983.

Badminton was not Hanif’s sole contribution in sports.

Hanif ’s legacy is immortalised in the form of a trophy named after him – not in badminton, but shooting.

The Tun Hanif Trophy was established in 1994 following his retirement as the IGP as a form of tribute from the National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM).

The trophy remains as one of the six national level championships organised by the NSAM on an annual basis.

“Tun Hanif was a patron of NSAM. As the IGP, he facilitated the process of approval for the use of firearms for NSAM and our affiliates. No other IGPS were as supportive as Hanif was to NSAM. We remain indebted to Hanif’s contribution, hence the trophy which was named after him,” said Major Jasni Shaari, NSAM secretary.

May the Almighty rest Hanif’s soul in eternal peace and grant him the highest place in heaven.