Request to the development chair, MCF.

Dear Dato Sri Santhara

Allow me to first congratulate you for winning the Deputy President's post uncontested in the last AGM and also to welcome you on behalf of the Malaysian chess community into your first public post on the National level. I have also been informed that you now head the development chair and so I hope you will entertain this request from the Malaysian chess community.

This is with regard to the KL Open that you have organised for us in the last few years. Would it be possible that you to include an Open event so that our players are given the opportunity to lock horns with strong overseas players? It would not be necessary to give a Malaysian only prize money. The exposure alone will be sufficient for the development of our players. However it would be good if you can subsidise the entry fees for our fellow Malaysian chess enthusiasts. I thank you in advance for your kind consideration.

If I may be allowed another request, can you please also ensure that the banning without grounds is discontinued by Peter? For your further information, what Peter does is to request that all participants write in to him by email first before he sends out payment and other details. This is so that he is able to ignore certain emails and respond to others which in fact bans without technically banning. Perhaps you can look into this. In case you are not aware this practice happens only at KL Open and not in any other event in Malaysia.

It will also be good if KLCA also organises a KL Close, KL age group and maybe even a KL Junior event. This will be in aid for the development of KL players.

Thank you for your kind attention. All my best and may your leadership take Malaysian chess to ever greater heights.

Request to MCF from parents going to Asean in Chiangmai

A few parents have been talking to me about the coming Asean games in Chiangmai in June and I have helped one young player in her preparations to go. A concern was raised about the high prices of the hotel charges for Asean events.

So please allow me to share my experience here as I shared with the parents. At the Asean games that I went to, I booked a room for myself while Mark shared the room with the other players at the official hotel. This was in Subic Bay. I later found out when we went to Subic Bay again for Asian Youth that the hotels in the surrounding area was much cheaper while comparable in standard although Mark still had to stay at the official hotel. I managed to cut my costs to about half of my Asean trip by doing that. I spent around RM10,000 for Asean. Please note that this was with the sponsorship of Air Asia at that time arranged by FGM.

I have heard from some friends at HD that it is not necessary to stay at the official hotel there as conditions imposed by the organisers unlike Asean.

It is hoped that the new MCF with the seasoned negotiating skills of the corporate boys onboard that they may be able to assist in negotiating better terms for the parents under the care of MCF.

Thank you for entertaining this request.

ps: For new parents who may not be aware of this, Asean is now open to all players wanting to participate. You do not need to be top 4 at NAG. The top 4 players are the official players but you can still participate as an independent player. Just apply to the new assistant secretary who I am informed is Greg. All my best.