My proposal for MCF's AGM.

Background: MCF's AGM is a top secret event. MCF's decision making process is also a top secret affair. Maybe that could be justified if MCF paid for everything. Free training and free tournaments for all. Then so long as we use their free facilities we don't have a say. That sort of works.

But what is the reality? We pay for the vast bulk of activities. Parents and players. We bring in sponsors, we pay for the training of national players, we pay for the tournaments and we even organize private events etc. etc. But we have no say. We are not even given basic information. And that is not right.

So there may be a fight for the top post. This is what I suggest.

1. That the date of the AGM be announced early on the MCF blog and the list of contenders published together with the Agenda.

2. That the MCF AGM be open to all stakeholders (ie players, private organisers/trainers/coaches and parents) to be present as observers.

3. That the contesting Presidents announce what is their stand relating to the issues now facing the Malaysian chess community so that we know what our representatives in the State affiliates are voting for.

4. That the voting is not by secret ballot so we know who voted for whom.

There is a precedence for this. In the PICA election 2009, both the candidates went on the podium to present their arguments in front of the membership.

This way is much healthier. If there is nothing to hide and no personal agendas then that should be the way. Then we can hold them to their promises for we will have witnessed and studied their plans for our future.