FINANCIALLY DRAINED

MSBF president says they have become beggars due to insufficient funds

WITH only RM2,000 left in their coffers, Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) president Melvin Chia has claimed that his national body have become beggars as they do not have enough funds to support their players and development programmes.

MSBF are also facing issues raising funds from private sponsors as most feel cue sports are associated with the world of crime.

The national body are in dire straits following the discontinuation of the Kita Juara programme after the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games last August.

And MSBF are also angry with the National Sports Council (NSC) for not providing them a training centre with proper snooker and pool tables since their suspension was lifted in Sept 2013.

Melvin hopes the Sports Ministry and the concerned parties will come up with a comprehensive programme immediately for athletes ahead of next year’s Philippines Sea Games.

“MSBF are not the only association with funding problems, other bodies are also suffering. We now practically have to beg from private sponsors to fund our athletes.

“I contacted NSC recently to request for funds for next month’s World Snooker Championships, but I was brushed off by their official, who stated ‘no money until further notice’.

“This current situation is embarrassing. Luckily, a cue manufacturer came forward and agreed to sponsor two players for the world meet.

“When the Kita Juara programme was discontinued, NSC told everyone to wait as the government had spent a lot on the Sea Games, and now they are saying to be patient until the Sports Ministry come up with a new director.

“What is going on? The concerned parties should stop offering excuses. They cannot just wash their hands and halt the progress of sports.”

Melvin is also upset with NSC and the other concerned parties for not granting MSBF’s wish for a training centre.

“We have been requesting for a training centre for years but the council have not come back to us. When I requested for the snooker and pool tables used for last year’s Sea Games to be handed to MSBF for training purposes, they replied the equipment must go through auditing first. They are now keeping the equipment in their store.

“I was given a raw deal in 2001 and 2013 over tables, and I believe we will not get them again. I am not sure what happened to the tables then... maybe they sold them off,” he said.

Melvin added that private companies outside of cue sports do not want to support MSBF as they fear it will give a bad image to their products.

“It is very tough for us. Basically, we do not have money coming in. We have been relying on funds from NSC to support our players and coaches. We are in a ‘near death’ situation as money is short and we have almost dried up our savings,” he added.