The Sun introduces Mother of all free publicity - Azalina Othman

…But the “Mother of all free publicity” comes from none other than our sports minister, Datuk Azalina Othman who has now given the impression to the whole world that Malaysia does not honour its contracts.

Having given a letter of undertaking that Malaysia would not host any event that clashed with the Asian Cup, she went on to give the nod for the Manchester United tour.

And the prime minister was unwittingly used to put pressure on the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to allow the game to be played. Why didn’t the ministers - including Azalina who is a lawyer by training - tell the PM that we have a contractual obligation with the AFC? Who hid material facts from the PM and why did they put him in such an awkward position?

And this is not exactly the first time Azalina is making news for the wrong reasons. Two months ago, she committed RM17 million of our money in what was described as a “bidding fee” for the Champions Youth Cup. So, we were promised 13 youth teams from Europe, one each from South America and Qatar, with Malaysia making up the 14th.

That the tournament was not being organised by a national association or a recognised body and that such an event could invite trouble did not seem to bother Azalina.

“We are doing it as part of Visit Malaysia Year”, she decreed at a press conference…

The promoters of the tournament are now suing FIFA, the international body, over the withdrawal of sanctions, and Malaysia have now found itself in yet another controversy and this is generating publicity.

…In the first place, why deal with promoters when there is a national association? Why is the ministry playing the role of a promoter? No answers will be forthcoming.

Would it have been more appropriate to get the Football Association of Malaysia to organise the Merdeka Football Tournament, the brainchild, of our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman?

No, the thinking is: We are flush with money and we’ll throw it around as we deem fit. If asked, challenge them to stand for elections-lah!

Source: The Sun