A big congratulations Puteri Munajjah

Here.

Very very well done. May you go far in life and in chess. I know your parents are very proud of you. A big big congratulations again.

Who is Haslinda speaking for?

Ref: Here.

I just received a note from an official in MCF. It is asking who is Haslinda speaking for?

(Where is her authority to deliberate this matter coming from? Hasn't MCF more important things to deliberate or is someone trying to divert attention from the real issues? Is Haslinda MCF?)

That is a very good question. And so more skeletons are coming out. More will be revealed in the coming days. Please stay posted Peter or whoever you are or how insignificant you are.

Please also note that you have been removed from the list if you are who you say you are. Otherwise please write in again to be included k? I don't want you to feel left out Peter. Gens Una Sumus.

Also please note the title of the label to this post.

Btw, Happy B'day Haslinda. Many happy returns and all my best.

Reply to Peter Long.

Ref in comments here.

Dear Peter

Thank you for publishing the first part of your reply email to the list of officials kept informed of the current situation of Malaysian chess on Jimmy's blog. That is very considerate of you.

So let me address your point of you being copied. It is normal courtesy to copy the person that you are writing about. The proper protocol to want to stop further mailings is to request by return email not to be copied anymore. This is what your Najib did and his email was removed from another list for instance. But you have never done that. Yes, I do read some of your comments on Jimmy's blog from time to time. But as you know Jimmy's blog is full of toyols so I do not have the time to authenticate if it is really you or just looks like you and sound dumb like you. But since I think it could be really you this time please consider your email removed from that list.

To the real Peter wherever you are. In case someone has impersonated you and you are offended by your removal from the list, please write in directly to me and I will add you back on ok?

So that is you. About Jimmy, there is no need to email him. First of all I do not know his email and I really can't be bothered to find out. He is just someone who has cheated the entire chess community and grabbed a place on the Malaysian squad by fraud. So nobody significant. But what is really the point of including him anyway? Jimmy is one of my most avid readers. Sometimes he stays up nights just to read my blog. I am sure if he really wanted to be included on the list he would have written to me directly. Is that point answered Peter, or do you want me to explain again in simpler English?

As for the rest, they also can use the normal protocol and ask to be removed if and when they so wish. But what tickles me Peter is how do you know that Fide or ACF is not talking to me? I hear that there are Fide development funds involved that is not accounted for. There are ACF funds involved that is not accounted for etc etc etc. So are they not on a need to know basis? And why have they not asked to be removed? Can't you even do any abc level thinking anymore Peter?

And how do you know that Dato or any of the rest isn't reading my emails or talking to me? That is why I keep telling you guys to just speak for yourself. The rest are all big boys and girls. Not like you and Jimmy.

I am looking forward to being invited to the MCF AGM to answer all these questions and address the slander that you and Jimmy have been using so freely because you think certain people in MCF will protect you as they have done for all these years. But my friend, I think this time they themselves could be on trial soon and may be too busy to help you guys any further.

Do read my upcoming posts on this blog Peter or whoever you are. That is my best advice to you if you do not want to go down with them too. I would be more worried about who they might implicate when the chips are down if I were you.

It is not so nice when the people you guys attack can defend themselves yes Peter and Jimmy? You are too used to bullying children and frightened parents for too many many years now. Now I think you are beginning to see what it is like on the receiving end yes?

Why are you so scared that people are following what you guys are doing? Have you done anything wrong? I sure hope you can substantiate the allegations on your email to my list Peter. You know who is reading right?

Note: I think this will be a really interesting case as Peter is suggesting using the law etc. I really would like to see this case, of the thief running to the police for action as the victim refuses to be robbed, happening. Or the gangsters running to the cops because their victims refuses to be intimidated. So, so so so dumb. What has your type of chess done to you guys? 

All my best.

Answer to Jimmy's challenge and stop crying to mama.

Ref here for challenge.

Wow! MCF has even replied to Jimmy and Peter's dumb request. I look forward to the outcome of that meeting and the opportunity to challenge this at the coming AGM. Here. This is an interesting development as MCF does not reply to the many many questions asked to her even by her own officials. Care to figure out what is going on?

So lets try to reason some things out here first and then we look at the reasoning that comes out of the MCF meeting.

So I said Peter thinks he is KL and now I say that Jimmy thinks he is Malaysia. And I asked the question, is MCF a terrorist organisation? A question is a question and can be answered in many ways; by a reasoned reply or by the action in response. But lets not preempt that answer today. Lets allow MCF to deliberate on that.

But let us apply some reasoning here in the meantime. So I said Jimmy is a kup chai and Peter is a lousy trainer. And I continue saying it. So what? That is my opinion of them and they have stated their opinion of me. But lets focus on Jimmy's letter here first. So when did Jimmy become Malaysia? Lets use an analogy from football here to see if we can make this picture a little clearer. On the field, in the tournament, can the players appeal to the Football Federation and say that the fans have booed them and ask that only fans that cheer be allowed into the stadium? So stupid!!

Jimmy says he wants to challenge me. And I have answered his challenge many times. But let me repeat it here again as he is a little slow. I think you are a kup chai Jimmy. The direct answer to my challenge is to go into the field and show the chess community that you are not and make me sound stupid. End of case and the end of FGM blog. My readers will leave as FGM will have zero credibility.

So let me make it easier for you Jimmy since you say you are keen for the challenge. Tell us which local tournaments you are going to and the real Malaysian players will meet you there. I will also try to come with Mark just like we did at Datmo rapid, despite us deciding to lay off chess for this year till after STPM, just so you are given the opportunity to show us all what a Ferrari you really are; so you have a chance of stamping your superiority and make me suck eggs. Btw, how did you do there?

Tell you what, I'll even give you this as a another concession to encourage you further. Use Hamid or Najib as your arbiter and you can even bring along Peter to play tag team if you want. All I request is that you allow Mark to finish his STPM before we start the clock. Agreed? We can start in January. How about it?

No more back doors and no more crying to mummy. No more saying that you cannot make it because Malaysia let you down, Dato let you down etc etc etc. You have been given a lot of chances and you are not allowed to steal the places from the better chess players here anymore.

But my curiosity is also peeked. You mean mummy has answered you boy, instead of giving you a spanking and asking you to grow up? Do keep us all informed of what mummy is going to do for you 2 little boys ok? Daddy is waiting for the answer too. Learn how to be a man, boys. Stop hiding under mummy's skirt. This is Daddy's best advice to you 2 kids.

They say and I say.

They say that Malaysian Chess is like all other sports in Malaysia and that corruption and incompetence is rife everywhere.

I say, why look at the bad apples? Why don't we choose the path of the highest instead of the lowest common denominators? Look at squash for instance. Doesn't that show we have the talent but just need a good culture for the players to follow.

They say that I am involved in a power grab. I say illicit power has already been grabbed. Powers outside the Constitution. I also say that I am not looking for a post so how can I be involved in a power grab?

Note: Liars usually see the world through their own prism. Because they lie they think everyone else is the same as them. Open your eyes, not everyone is like you. Some just seek to learn the truth.

I acknowledge that some have given me information that I have used on this blog after verifying as best as I can the authenticity of the information. At UTP some people came up to me and spoke as if I belong to one camp. Actually I belong to no camp. The opinions stated here are my own. Observe this. When Greg supported selection, I supported him in the effort. When Greg turned, I removed my support. I support issues and not people.

They say I have a personal vendetta against Jimmy and now Peter. 

Actually I have never spoken to the boy before. It is his back door antics that I am against. Make no mistake, if Jimmy comes back to play chess again I will defend his right if he has not broken the rules. And if someone fixes the selection so that Jimmy cannot represent Malaysia despite his superior chess, I will write about that injustice here. So it is not personal.

As for Peter I met him once for a drink and thought for a moment that maybe people had pegged him wrong. The very next day he wrote me a nasty email. He bans without grounds, he tried to intimidate an entire contingent and he has subverted the Association meant for KL to becoming his personal vehicle. Yet he pretends to be a good guy? And he actually thinks people cannot see through his antics.

Observe again.

Although certain people do call me and send me information via emails etc, I publish it for all to see. So how can I be taking sides? I just pass along the information that I think is genuine and I comment on public postings by Jimmy and parties. Doesn't it make sense that anyone can comment on any public posting or do you think they are the only ones that can have a say. Their arrogance and God complex is showing again.

So back to what this blog is about. All can read this blog. Jimmy, Greg, the opposition forces etc etc. So all can use the information to improve or not. If I only pass information and receive information from the new people that are seeking office then you can say I am biased. Remember I even helped Greg out when he was on the straight and narrow?

In actuality I do not know if the new people seeking posts are better or worse than the people they want to replace so FGM has not endorsed anyone. So the information available here is for everyone. Who knows, maybe Greg may decide that he will pay back all the money he has taken from MCF without proper authority. Who knows maybe Jimmy may have his IM title removed by Fide for his transgressions.

My point is the information is for everyone. It is up to them what they want to do with it. Just like it is up to you to choose a new committee or not. But at least you will not be doing it in the dark. So if someone wants a post ask him or her the questions raised here. Hear the answers for yourself and then make your own decision after having weighed out all the facts. Decision making. That is what chess is all about.

I reiterate. FGM does not endorse any candidate. I have no more information than what is presented here. You decide the MCF you want. I seek no post and I will accept no post even if offered. Is that absolutely clear now?

That is not for me. I find my fulfilment in helping our talented kids develop mental strength and a deeper understanding of the nature of strategy etc etc. I am just doing my part here to help, so that those that are genuinely interested in developing their chess and not getting free holidays, is given a chance and not killed off and sabotaged by the back room boys. You know who they are.

I share my experiences here because I have some knowledge of the type of dirty politics played by the Associations and the challengers are parents. I hope this helps to level the playing field when the actual rules of engagement is known to all parties. Healthy competition and informed choices. As chess players we need to know this before we move yes?

Now may the best man/lady win.

Good luck to all who are seeking public office. Serve to lead as Peter also said.

Open letter to MCF by Jimmy Liew.

Here.

The last straw for Jimmy Liew is my article asking if MCF is a terrorist organisation. He is showing repugnance on their behalf as if it has something to do with him. That is fine. The whole of MCF is on trial now or hasn't he noticed? I wonder what will happen if the accounts is not ratified or if it is ratified but flawed. Will more skeletons come out of the closet?

It is very clear that the selection for the Olympiads was a fraud (I won't bother with the other stuff Jimmy is saying). It is clearly against the Constitution for open and fair selection. I welcome an MCF probe into itself to see if it has followed the rules. I ask MCF to open it's AGM to all stakeholders and all interested parties to attend and I will gladly answer questions there.

You see, those crooks on the link above can only do what they do because they find protection under this MCF instead of sanction. So you can fix selection, you can form a State Association that is not a State Association , you can ban without grounds and you can rob the Associations etc. All that can be done under this current MCF.

That is what this trial by the chess community is about. And I am willing to be a witness.

(A simple distraction like this will not work Jimmy. We are all chess players here. I have produced a National Junior and have placed a Junior on the senior squad via selection while you have only accomplished it via the back door. Different level of skills Jimmy).

So I think the first thing to do is to ferret the crook/s out of MCF. Then all can get a fair and open hearing. After all crooks will defend their ilk right Jimmy? Is that what you want too Jimmy? An open and fair hearing by a clean arbiter? Is that what you stand for? Then lets examine the accounts together, clean out MCF and then we ask for a hearing by a new and fair MCF. Do you agree? No back door deals between crooks. An open and fair hearing/selection. Or do you only like fixed games?

ps: Oh by the way Peter, I don't know if you have noticed this difference between us in terms of skill. I back the player first and then I bring him into the senior squad by my training methods via open and fair selection. You did not even recognise your own player and promoted someone else's back door player instead. Then you came back quickly and claimed his title as your achievement after the fact. Then you let him down so badly at World Youth. And still you talk so big.

I do not write letters begging to coach the national players, they had come to me on their own volition and request till they and their parents were terrorised. See the difference? Results Peter, results. Get your own results. Don't steal from someone else's work and don't try to ban players better than the ones you can produce.

A thought provoking article.

Here.

Sometimes I wonder where our leaders of this calibre have gone to. I get glimpses of the potential from time to time in the fire and spirit of our kids. Then I blink and when I look again it is gone. But I still believe that chess is a powerful tool to bring up leaders like this for Malaysia. But we must do it right. We must do it in such a way where both their ability to reason as well as their conscience is developed. Now it seems that Malaysian chess do neither.

Is MCF a terrorist organisation?

MCF Constitution here.

Lets try this as a thinking exercise today. Let's try to reason this out. What is terrorism? Can we agree that it is an attempt by certain people to use extra constitutional means to force a change in a situation for their own benefit? Is it necessary to kill and maim before you can be labelled a terrorist? Or is the use of terror on the weak and helpless alone sufficient? Even if they are not killed or maimed.

For the sake of argument lets say that the use of terror with extra constitutional means on the weak and helpless is sufficient for the label of terrorism.

So does MCF use terror on the weak and helpless? Do they not attack the children via their proxies? Do they not encourage match fixing via unconstitutional means? Do they not assassinate your character and villify you in public should you dare to question them? Do they not tell you that you cannot win at selection but wait for your turn if you do not want to make enemies? Do they not tell you who you can go to for chess training or you will be attacked? Do they not try to ban your child if they feel threatened that your player may upset the back room deals? Do they support all these activities with the use of illegitimate power and authority outside of the Constitution?

Do they rob the Associations blind and if you question them then they will try to fix you, whether you are an official, parent, coach, trainer or player?

In a democracy everyone has a say. Terrorism does not condone that. In a democracy the Datuks and Neneks have a say. Ah Beng, Ah Kow, Samy, Muthu and Ali have a say. One vote each and you can attend the ceramahs, you can hear the arguments presented by all those fighting for office and then you make your own decision and cast your vote. Terrorism does not allow that. You have no say. They do not even need to explain to you.

They can rob you blind and if you dare to question, they will terrorise you. And in chess the vast majority are the children. They are learning all this together with their chess lessons. They are learning how terrorism works in every tournament where there is match fixing.

Is that not the case?

In chess, the major stakeholders are the parents and the players. Together they pay for everything and everyone within the chess industry. But they are given no respect and they are given no say. If they try to bring up a grievance, it is not solved. Instead they are terrorised.

You think I may have a point here? But lets not jump to conclusions here. Let us revisit some of the evidence from my following posting. And then let us go to the AGM and allow them to cross examine me and refute what I am saying here. Why have they not dared to answer even one of my questions? Is it because I don't have a vote in MCF? Have I been disenfranchised? Have I no rights in Malaysian chess? All they do is attack with no refutation.

The only legitimate way is to argue out with reason and explanations. And all have to follow the law as laid down in the Constitution. Otherwise you risk being labelled a terrorist organisation.

They leave our children's body intact but they have robbed them of their hopes and dreams. They have left our childrens body intact but they have killed off their spirit. And their weapon of choice is terror. Is this not true? Look at our older juniors now. What do you see? Do you remember them when they thought they could do anything? Do you remember them when they had hope and fire in their eyes? Who took all that away? Are they not terrorists or do the children have to die before we say anything or lift a hand to try to change things here at home first.

Good problems (Challenges) and bad problems.

No matter what you do in life you will always be faced with problems. That is why problem solving skills are important to develop. And that was really why chess was invented. The idea at that time was to teach the Generals basic concepts of war ie strategy etc without risking lives. Ergo, problem solving.

So what is a good problem and what is a bad problem? Let us look at bad problems first. A bad problem to have will be trying to find someone to push Jimmy's wheelchair at some future time in Malaysian chess because we cannot find a deal maker of his quality who is capable of both his PR and manufactured numbers expertise, and he is getting thrashed by the future generations of 2000's. And then even later still he will be hammered by the 1900's of the future. Make no mistake, chess will get tougher and tougher with the advent of the internet and knowledge abounding everywhere. Manufactured fat numbers has reached it's shelf life.

A bad problem is when we will still hear people complaining of fixed matches for the next 30 years. A bad problem will be when we return to the U15 again to promote because certain trainers just cannot learn and are unable to help our players move beyond that level in the International Arena but won't let others try. A bad problem is when our Associations are stripped of money that could have been used for development and the officials are running ragged trying to "fix" the accounts to avoid going to prison. And there are many more examples but you get the drift.

So a good problem? A good problem to have is when we are innundated with sponsors because we are producing results from the wonderful pool of talent that we are blessed with. The problem is in selecting which ones to take because they are all pounding on the door to share in our success. A good problem to have is when there are so many good players coming up that MCF is running ragged trying to arrange which Tournaments to send them to in order to develop them further. A good problem to have would be when MCF has so much money that they need to deeply study which is the best training module for our national players after having compared the training modules of the other Federations and finding the one that fits us best.

Etc. etc etc.

Is it apparent that before we can get to the good problems we need to solve the bad problems first? To do that won't we need good officials with skills and the ability to read and understand the Constitution? Won't we need to promote and encourage healthy practices like proper and fair selection?

Think on this. MCF has not solved any real problems since it's inception. Every year it's the same old problems. So we now have a culture that develops professional prevaricators. Pusing, pusing, pusing and we are still in the same spot while the World moves on. In real terms that means we are falling further and further behind.

Still don't believe me? Ask Jimmy and that big mouth Peter (who tries to ban our players without grounds and who tries to intimidate the entire Malaysian contingent with his RM1,500) to play one full year of proper Fide rated Tournaments in an open and tough field. Care to bet that they won't do any better and probably a lot worse than the older Juniors, the just ex-Juniors or even the other strong players that we have now? Their "M" means nothing but as a museum relic.

Solve the bad problems. That is what learning chess is all about. First you have to stop yourself from losing by having the right openings and understanding. Then you have the good problem of winning from a superior position etc. It's about time we did that isn't it? And then the good problems will come.

Why Malaysian Chess has lost it's way.

Lets just have a brief look at what chess is really about again. I wrote this in 2009 just before being elected to PICA. Here.

And we have MCF which is the sports body to govern the growth of chess in Malaysia. Now chess is primarily a family affair. The vast bulk of the players are children and only a few make it to the very top of chess. So what really is the function of a mental sports like chess; a co-curriculum activity even in schools. What is the general wisdom? Isn't it to teach them positive values? Are we not supposed to teach them good sportsmanship/fair play, honesty and keeping to the rules, the value of thinking through, the value of planning and training; the value of mental strength and hard work.

Isn't that what they are supposed to learn from chess whether they become a GM or Not?

So that is the big picture and this is the Constitution of MCF, Here. , which the committee is supposed to follow in the governance of chess but which they do not. Are we not supposed to bring up smart, law abiding citizens to bring Malaysia to the next level? But before we can do that, is MCF not supposed to be setting the example?

But what is MCF doing? I think the accounts is going to be very very revealing. It hasn't come out but most of us already know what it will show. We have already seen glimpses from Tse Pin's own admission. Here.

We already see the celebration and setting up as examples for the rest of our kids to follow in the back room boys. We saw the attacks on the Junior who did it the correct way by training and competing in a proper selection. We also saw the sabotage of the training program for our Juniors.

Think about this also. Chess teaches us how to solve problems within the rules. How to set goals etc. What example has MCF been showing us. Have they solved even one of the problems that has been plaguing us for the past 30 years plus? Have they taken any measures to correct mistakes or have they instead rewarded those that match fix, hold suspect tournaments, ban without grounds etc etc etc.

This is what they are teaching our children and the future leaders of Malaysia. So can we change this? Right now we have a section of chess that cannot read, cannot reason or think and almost for sure cannot stand tall in an International field. 

Right now the only way to get an International level Malaysian in chess is if the culture of Fide is similar to the culture in Malaysian chess. Then we can strike a deal. MCF has plenty of experience there but not in improving our chess.

Caveat. If we look at our very youngest juniors we can see the tremendous talent and potential. I submit that the current culture in MCF and Malaysian chess in general not only does not develop them but instead bring them all up to be just like Jimmy. Is that a good thing? Look at how he got into the Olympiad team and how he performed there. Look at all the other things he has done to the juniors to enable him to still remain on the team.

So can we have a new and responsible MCF from the next AGM that truly serves to lead?