Goodbye my friend...R.I.P Matt McKeown

I received a call from my friend, Azizi, at around 3.30pm today.

"You mean to say you dont know what happened to him?"

That's how I found out the news about the passing of our 'captain', Matt McKeown. He died of a heart attack at home, about an hour before that.

It was a huge shock to all of us in Astro Arena. Matt was not only Astro Arena General Manager, but he was our leader, the man that made all of this happen.

I still remember the first time Matt and I met. It was some time back in November last year. When he interviewed me for a position in Astro Arena. My first impression? Someone who clearly knew what he wants to achieve.

There were two meetings after that, occasions that I believe was used by him to size me up, to check whether I was suitable to be a member of his pioneer group to launch Astro Arena. On that third meeting, he told me straight that he's giving me the job.

"Any questions," he asked.

"Will you be a typical Malaysian boss," I replied.

"No. That's my guarantee..."

That's when its all started. Matt was true to his word, providing not only a stable leadership, but also a refreshing management style in steering Astro Arena during our formative months.

He hated it when, on many occasions, I called him 'Boss'. "Everytime you called me Boss, you owe my five ringgit," he said. I was lucky because few times that I absent-mindedly called him that, he was kind enough not to punish me for it.

But yes, he 'punished' few people who regularly called him that. Like our office manager, Yvonne, who was made to buy few cakes - to be shared with us - as a punishment.

He was accessible at any time of the day. There was several occasions, when I was disturbed by certain happenings in the office, when I sms-ed or emailed him, and I will get prompt answers from him.

We will miss him, that's for sure. We will miss his leadership, his kindness and his devotion to Astro Arena. He was a great man. And a good friend.

Rest in peace, my friend...

Hutang MSN bertimbun!

Apa sudah jadi? Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) didedahkan sebagai menanggung 'hutang' yang banyak dengan pelbagai persatuan sukan kebangsaan...

Bukan sahaja dengan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), tetapi juga kriket, gimnastik, skuasy dan banyak lagi. Angkanya dikatakan mencecah beberapa juta ringgit.

Pendedahan itu dilakukan Berita Harian. Baca di sini.

Kalau kail panjang sejengkal....

Sudah lama aku tidak dapat membuat posting baru dalam blog ini. Susah juga nak kekalkan momentum sebegini...jadi aku tabik rakan-rakan blogger seperti rizalhashim dan ramai lagi yang sentiasa berupaya.

Namun daripada sudut positif, ia juga memberi alasan cukup baik untuk aku. Kerana sepanjang Ramadhan yang lalu, tiada posting baru bermakna tiada pula aku mengkritik mana-mana pihak.

Aku juga dapat meredakan rasa tersinggung, terutama daripada segelintir pihak yang terlalu taksub dengan seseorang individu pemimpin hingga mengecam aku tanpa langsung malu dengan adab serta tata susila sebagai orang timur, apatah lagi sebagai saudara seagama.

Aku titipkan olahan mengenai Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Annuar Musa sebagai nasihat kepada beliau. Tetapi ada pihak yang taksub dengan tokoh ini bingkas terus menghentam aku. Aku cuma mahu beri nasihat.

Untuk pengetahuan pihak yang menghentam, aku pernah berada 'dalam FAM' untuk tempoh hampir lima tahun. Aku tahu asam garam 'permainan politik' FAM. Tan Sri Annuar ada niat baik, samalah seperti ramai lagi barisan pemimpin yang pernah mengisi jawatan penting juga. Tetapi apa yang mungkin Tan Sri Annuar belum rasai, yang sudahpun dijadikan pengalaman oleh pemimpin yang lain, ialah betapa sukarnya untuk membuat perubahan, apatah lagi mahu memulakan revolusi.

Aku tersenyum apabila cepat Tan Sri Annuar membuat penjelasan mengenai perlantikannya. Aku 'salute' niat ikhlasnya. Aku doakan beliau berjaya.

Tetapi pada masa sama, seperti dinyatakan oleh Tan Sri Annuar, beliau perlukan masa.

Jadi, atas alasan sama juga, aku tersinggung dengan segelintir pihak yang bingkas menuding jari, menyerang tanpa alasan, semata-mata kerana 'nasihat' aku kepada Tan Sri.

Aku tahu apa yang aku katakan!

Kepada penyokong-penyokong ini, jangan terlalu taksub menyokong, lantas menyerang orang lain, jika kita tidak tahu hujung pangkalnya. FAM bukan KAFA. Banyak ranjau dan liku menanti.

Aku tidak mahu nanti terpaksa ketawa, dalam sedih, apabila nasihatku ternyata jadi kenyataan!

Fikirkanlah...