Saturday, April 18, 2009

Dancesport Under Sieged Part 1

Remaining silent in no longer an option. Keeping quite and let time heal the wound will not work. I have received various e-mails and calls from supporters , athletes and friends asking me why is the 25th April 2009 at the Royal Lake Club is endorsed by MPDC only. What happened to the Joint ranking between MDSB/MPDC.

Some even asked me , is it not true that there is a Historic agreement between IDSF and IPDSC to work together in peace and friendship, why then this split in Malaysia. There is such agreement and the IPDSC or IDSF website will confirm this.

Everything that we encounter are all mere perceptions. It is how you perceived things. Yesterday's rebel is embraced as today's freedom fighter. So my view is how I see it as MPDC Sports Director.

The 1st perceived Joint Ranking began on the 24th of August 2008 in Batu Pahat. It went well and the competition adjudicators were all IDSF International adjudicators. We had Shawn Tay as the Chief Adjudicator and various personalities like Belinda Adora the 2005 SEA Games Latin Gold Medallist adjudicating the competition. There were no complaints or protest from anyone especially MDSB.

Fast forward to 22nd March 2009, Mr. Apache Yong met Peter Ong at a function in Lake Club Kuala Lumpur and told him in essence MDSB is not recognising the Batu Pahat Competition as a ranking competition and as such MDSB cannot recognise the 25th of April as a 2nd Ranking.

This got Peter Ong into a flap and when I heard about it, I just dismissed it as Apache may had too much fire water and was just rambling away like he used to. I know him as a cute cherubic man with a mop hair top in the Lat cartoon who have a pleasant sense of humour. Really with a name borrowed from Chief Geronimo tribe, you cannot help but love this man.

Peter Ong was actually quite annoyed with me for not taking it seriously for I told Peter, for whatever it is worth it is mere hearsay and is not admissible in any court of law. Now you have to understand Peter is no ordinary Dance Coach or Opera singer, he not only hold a bachelor law degree but also a Masters degree in Law. I dare say more qualified than me. I told Peter instead of complaining about the darkness go light a candle or put your money where your mouth is. Below is an extract of Peter Ong's email to the Secretary of MPDC copied to the President and myself on the 23rd of March 2009:-

Subject: Re: Fw: Malaysia Grade A National Ranking 2008/2009 Date: Monday, March 23, 2009 2:31 PM From: Peter Ong To: Chester Lim Hian Thoong , Lavinie Thiruchelvam Cc: George Tan , The Dance Space , John Fam Conversation: Malaysia Grade A National Ranking 2008/2009

Dear all, I attended YS Lee's anniversary function at the Lake Club last night as a gesture of support. It was at that function where the following situation was brought up. According to Apache:
1) OCM only recognises MDSB as the official DanceSport body in Malaysia
2) MDSB and MPDC are absolute separate entities
3) OCM will therefore only recognise MDSB's ranking results
4) No agreement was made with regards to the joint-ranking competitions
5) This leaves the Batu Pahat and the coming Lake Club competition ranking results null and void with regards to selecting athletes to be sent to the Games
6) George Lim is now President of MDSB. Apache is VP and Janet Lim is Sports Director
7) MDSB does not wish to cooperate with MPDC in this ranking matter as it views MPDC as a completely separate entity
8) Therefore, only MDSB members will be allowed to participate in the ranking and to proceed to the Games. MPDC membership is not relevant.
9) The first sanctioned ranking will be held in Melaka in June and it is claimed that OCM will only recognise this result under advisement from current MDSB committee and Datuk Seah is onboard with this

10) 12 couples will be sent to the Games based on the Melaka results (6 standard and 6 latin) as there are 10 medals to be contested

11) There are no funds to send the athletes so they will have to bear their own costs
12) They have already informed some of my students of this stand last night and I'm sure will proceed with this method of communication in the near future


This has now created an atmosphere of utter confusion and frustration, as you can imagine. This has to be resolved immediately for the sake of the dancers who would like to go for the Games.
It is in my opinion that a fresh documented confirmation from OCM and Datuk Seah be obtained to clarify the situation with regards to the ranking and that the results obtained previously are still legitimate. If there is any delay, I fear there may be a lot more damage done as now people are not sure where to stand. I have been informed that it is now a situation of "you are either for us or against us" as MDSB has no intention of cooperating with MPDC going forward and this will have an affect on all MPDC members. Sincerely, Peter


Now having received this mail, MPDC naturally have to act on it. I asked Peter whether the above mail was spoken in jest or is it serious. Peter Ong replied that he was dead serious and he will stand by the contents of his email of 23rd March 2009. I will not reproduce the further email but I am more than prepared to show you the letter if you doubt my words.

Do you want to know what action MPDC took, wait for my second part. The picture would tell you how MPDC felt.

4 comments:

shaweb said...

Hi John,

I have read your blog with interest. Having started my dance sensation at a very "late" age, I might not be wise enough to comment on the political conflict between MDSB/MPDC.

Perhaps, I could share some experience from my working field:

Similar story happen to the major players in century egg industry (the business I am doing).

A few partners started the manufacturing plant, and all established their own brand of century egg when we split up.

However, we still keep in touch a few times in a year. (Luckily did not resolve into yelling at each other :-)... not anymore )

Hopefully, one day the disputes between MDSB / MPDC could be worked out. As the famous chinese phrase, “One could easily break a pair of chopstick, but bundle of chopsticks would be tough like a hard wood " :-)

Mutual respect and corporation always work wonders! :-)

skydancer4 said...

Hi there Shaw,

Thank you for your comments. As far as MPDC are concerned , we would like to work with everyone who are prepared to advance Dancesport in the country. The community is so small. Really we can forgive MDSB, I think the first thing they need to do is grow up a bit and own up their mistakes and learn to apologise.
The personalities are all senior people and really it is ashame that they have this hostile thing in their blood. I think life must be boring for them. Hey maybe with Century eggs it may balance their homones a bit.

Thank you for your comments.

shaweb said...

Ya Sky Dancer, you are right !!!

Century egg is highly alkaline food, that would neutralize the acidity of the tense disputes :-)

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