Thursday, April 30, 2009

MPDC now in IDSF

The IDSF has informed MPDC that they have been selected by the Presidium of IDSF to represent Malaysian in Dancesport. The letter was dated the 22nd of April 2009 and we only informed recently. I was requested to remove the letter by our President, too sensitive it seems. Anyway in its place here is a picture of a very handsome couple Cecilia and Billy. The picture expresses passion and expression in a rumba.

The notice shock me and to MPDC. I need not repeat the story of the change in regime. I was subsequently told by the President that the Presidium of IDSF asked him if he would accept the IDSF membership, he accepted because there are no other candidate that are eligible.

I am shocked because we are MPDC the professionals now that we are in IDSF we need to apply to change our name to reflect this situation. It is more work for MPDC and with power , come greater responsibility. I was told that despite my shallow knowledge of the IDSF rules, I was not sacked and they have asked me to be the Sports Director of this new outfit.

Let this be my first duty by breaking the news to you. The next duty if you will permit me to gently and kindly remind you that under the IDSF rules passed on the 15th of June AGM in Moscow, all those who dance in an IDSF run competition will have to be a member of the National Association. Now this National Association is MPDC.

If at all you are registered previously as an MDSB member, I am sorry to have to inform you that your membership is no longer valid. You need to be an MPDC member and now you can just go to our web page at http://www.mpdc.org.my/main/ on the left hand corner go to documents and all the information on membership are there. We are still in our infantile stage and if there are hiccups here and there please bear with us a bit.

Memberships to MPDC are open to all not only to DanceSport athletes but to Dance schools also. They can join as Associate members too.

Finally I want to just remind you that MPDC exist for you, not the other way around. We want to serve our members better with the whole aim of promoting dancesport. We are a council and we act according to the Rules of IDSF, I am sorry we cannot bend the IDSF rules for anyone.

All our competitions if it carries that IDSF logo are IDSF run competitions. Our local competitions are all IDSF run competitions using all IDSF international adjudicators and the scrutineering program licensed by IDSF. MPDC is not a free for all club and if you subscribe to the ideals of Freedom to Dance , you are free to do what you want , don't join MPDC and you are not bound by any rules.

We are a sport body and as Sportsmen and Sportswomen, we expect a standard of integrity and discipline from all of you. As Sports Director I was not spared of criticism for not doing my job properly as you can see in my earlier blog, MPDC will act without fear or favour and the rules will be applied evenly to all.

To all Grade A who were nearly disqualified, you are ordered to buy me a plate of Char Kway Teow for taking the scolding on your behalf from the Chairman of adjudicators.

Lets work together!


Dancesport Under Seiged (Really Final Part)

This is George Tan he is the president of the Malaysian Professional Dancesport Council (MPDC). He is also the only qualified Chairman of adjudicator in Malaysia. Let me tell you something about him, don't mess with him as far as Dancesport is concerned. At the Lake Club ranking competition, of the 12 semi finalist I think almost 70 per cent of the Dancesport Athletes should be disqualified.

Now you chaps think that I am joking or smirking over my statement. I think all you Grade A athletes who breached the rules have the Sports Director to thank. You do not know what is happening behind the scene and you know how difficult it is to plead to George Tan when the IDSF law is on his side.

Most of you know about the dress regulations stuff like making sure the 2 bra cups are not more than 5 cm and the under garment cannot be skin colour. How many of you know that if you want to change your costumes in a competition you need to inform and seek the permission of the Chairman of adjudicator? How many of you had sought his permission, according to George Tan, none of you MPDC/IDSF members Grade A did that. No respect for him as Chairman of Adjudicators for the event.

George Tan lectured me that the IDSF regulation was passed many years ago at the 2006 IDSF AGM. At the last IDSF Chairperson Congress in Stuttgart this flouting of the dress regulation has reached such a critical point that Heinz Spaeker the IDSF Sports Director made it clear on the following.

There will no longer be a first warning to change of costume that are in breach of the rules. The chairperson of the competition are NOT obliged to give any warnings. The Chairperson can disqualify a couple immediately in case of a breach of the IDSF Dress Regulations.

If you wish to change your costume, it is now obligatory that couples seek the permission of the Chairperson and that the Chairpersons accepts that the new costumes conform with the dress regulations. It is no fun being lectured by a man who sport an army style hair cut like George Tan, look at his face, you don't mess with a person like him. I had to plead with him and he told me that this is an IDSF run competition , he is not answerable to anyone except his conscience. His conscience is clear. Finally after much pleading he decided to tell me off, that as Sports Director I should know or ought to have known the rules. George Tan referred me to Dancesport Today 3/2007 at page 3.

He warned that he will let me go this time and will take my plea as a requests by all you dancers for permission to change of costumes. Phew! what a relief. Now why is he so strict? George explained that Dancesport is now admitted in the Olympic Family Games but not in the Olympic Games yet. If you athletes keep flouting the rules who suffers, the whole Dancesport community in IDSF suffers.

Now you see why you dancers have to buy me dinner and thank me. Now it is my turn to warn all of you, Dancesport is a Sport. So don't play play okay? You are in MPDC and we follow only IDSF rules, you want to go for the Games respect the rules of IDSF. There is no compromise on this.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Dancesport Under Seiged (Final Part)



MALAYSIAN DANCESPORT BERHAD
(276051-h)
Mr. Peter Ong,
Organizer 15th April, 2009
Dear Sir,
Re: Competition to be held at Royal Lake Club on 25th April, 2009

We refer to the above, we have been informed that you are the organizer of the above event and have further been informed that MDSB’s logo and name have been used in conjunction with this event.

Please note that MDSB has not allowed you to use the Association logo or name.

Kindly confirm that you will forthwith remove all material which uses the Association logo and name and that you undertake not to use the same further. In the event the information we have received is incorrect please let us know.

In the event we do not have your reply within 48 hours, we shall take all necessary action including and not limited to obtaining an injunction from the court against the event.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Yours sincerely
George PC Lim
President.

Okay some of you have written to me telling me that you wanted to have sight of the letter from MDSB to The Dancespace. The above picture file is the letter and just in case you cannot read the contents I have taken the liberty to copy and paste the contents in red.

Now being put in a situation what can The Dancespace do, but to remove in accordance to the instructions in the letter. It was during that time The 2nd National ranking was in a twilight zone and The Dancespace had no choice but to seek guidance from MPDC. Since this is a Malaysian ranking and by virtue of the fact that MPDC is registered as a Sports Body, MPDC can conduct a National ranking and accordingly endorsed and sanction the event.

This is not the way to treat another sport body and to say the least the conduct of MDSB is very unsporting and highly political. I somehow do not know if that is the correct words to use. The Dancespace Peter Ong is a member of MDSB, as a member he sought their endorsement and sanction to run the competition at the National level. Mr. Peter Ong also did mentioned that if MDSB cannot grant ranking at National level, at least just endorse and sanction the competition. Instead of replying to him, they told him in no uncertain terms to remove anything that is linked to MDSB within 48 hours or else threat of legal action and injunction.

We in MPDC are extremely grateful to Singapore Dancesport Federation ( SGDF) for lending us the SGDF Pro Dance program for scrutineering. We had no choice for MDSB are the owners of their own IDSF Pro Dance program and we do not want The Dancespace to be sued.

Why is MDSB so hostile to its members? Why is MDSB so hostile to MPDC? When they dispute the joint ranking why did MDSB not reply to MPDC President George Tan letter seeking for an explanation? Why?

I do not want to speculate why, but all I care to say is this, MDSB is a member of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). They are a member by virtue of their recognition by IDSF as the sole representative of Dancesport in Malaysia. That is a powerful position if you want to go for the Olympic Family Games like the SEA or Asian Games and others.

You see when you have power and you cannot use your power responsibly it can corrupt the soul and mind. There is a saying by a great jurist " Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely". So the scepter to rule Dancesport in Malaysia has suddenly turn into a feather duster. This is when IDSF who are watching the scenario that is being played out in Malaysia and they decide to act. All said you the readers decide whether they deserve what they got.

The story do not end there, there is another body besides MDSB that are working to sabotage the 2nd Malaysian Ranking. This story have the trapping of drama and all elements of a suspense story. That will be another story for another day.

P.S. The letter above dated the 15th April 2009 was sent by email to Mr. Peter Ong, that was the reason why it was not signed, the picture of the letter was enhanced but the contents are verified to be the contents in the letter.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Dancesport Under Seiged Part 3

Due to supervening factors that has now come into play, I shall now give you the short answer to the two questions posed in Dancesport Under Seiged Part 2. The short answer is MDSB did not bother to reply to MPDC letter at all and The Dancespace, Peter Ong's request for sanction was met with a demand by MDSB to remove all MDSB logo to suggest that the ranking on the 25th of April 2009 is in anyway linked to MDSB.

The
Dancespace accordingly complied and since this is an IDSF run competition MPDC have no choice but have to step in and continue with the endorsement and sanctioning of the Dance Competition and the ranking.

MPDC are able to do that because MPDC is a National body registered under the Sports Development Act.

However today 25
th April 2009 we discovered and are able to confirm that MDSB are no longer listed as a member representing Dancesport in Malaysia. You may confirm this by going to the IDSF web site at http://www.idsf.net/

The question at the
back of your mind is which Dancesport body will be the filling the vacuum. I cannot at this stage predict but we shall wait and see. There are rumours abound suggesting this body or that body but it is really anybody guess.

Until then
MPDC will continue act as custodian of the IDSF ideals and policies until the new body is selected. MPDC has decided to hold the ranking as promised in 2008 and will do so until such time when the new body representing IDSF in Malaysia is selected.

This is a most unfortunate event and it is pointless to speculate where the fault lies. You know where the fault lies.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Dancesport Under Seiged Part 2

Now this is my friend Khun Apache, he was the President of MDSB until December 2008. After 2008 according to Peter Ong he became the Vice President. Now tell me how can you not love this face, certainly does not look like Geronimo. Now perhaps you can understand why MPDC cannot take Peter Ong complain seriously.

The picture was taken at the Vongchalavitkul Hall in Korat where they held the 24th SEA Games for Dancesport in 2007. He was wearing a Thailand accreditation card in helping Thailand organise the athletes. Now you have to understand that Inggeris is not the Thais first language and Thais generally do not speak Inggeris like their "lang chai" Prime Minister Abhisit.

Continuing where I left off, the MPDC council felt that the common courtesy is to write to Khun Apache the President or Vice President of MDSB and confront what Peter Ong seems to have alleged.


All MPDC wanted at that time was an explanation and to clear whatever misunderstanding that we had or they may have taken offense for what MPDC has done or not done. There are problems in this world and really we do not need a war in this small Dancesport community.

Another reason also at that time there was an announcement that MDSB has endorsed an event in Melaka called the 1st Melaka Dancesport Championships 2009. The event is endorsed by MDSB and more important they call it "MDSB 1ST RANKING FOR THE 3rd ASIAN INDOOR GAMES 2009". By logical deduction if the Melaka event is the 1st ranking then the joint ranking is no longer recognised by MDSB.

MPDC of course was worried more for the Dancesport athletes than anything else. They have worked hard and why must they suffer just because of some bungling mistakes done by MDSB. The letter below will lead you through what happened and lay down the MPDC approach in resolving the problems.

I think it is essential for all of you to know that George Tan at that time was the Vice President of MDSB whereas Apache was the President. The mail below, George Tan wrote in his capacity as the President of MPDC and also Vice President of MDSB.

From: dansport@gmail.com
To: apacheyong@hotmail.com; malaysiadsb@yahoo.com
CC: nocmas@tm.net.my
Subject: Malaysia National Ranking Events 2008/2009 & State of Affairs at MDSB
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:18:16 +0800
Date: 3rd April 2009
Apache Yong
President BY Email
Malaysian Dancesport Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
Dear Mr. Yong;
Re: The Malaysian Ranking for 2009
I am writing to you in my capacity as Vice President of MDSB and also as the President of MPDC. Of late I have been hearing rumours that you have spoken to our Council member that MDSB is going to declare the joint ranking Championship in Batu Pahat held on the 24th of August 2008 null and void. You have relayed this to Mr. Peter Ong an MDSB member and also our MPDC council member. Mr. Peter Ong had confirmed that this information was relayed to him as an MPDC council member and you said it in your capacity of the President of MDSB and not in jest.
I did not take it seriously of hearsay until recently there was a notice of a Championship called the 1st Melaka Dancesport Championships 09. This Championship is endorsed by MDSB and it also claims to be endorsed by IDSF. Further it was announced that this Championship is MDSB 1st ranking for the 3rd Asian Indoor Games.
This act by MDSB is a hostile act against MPDC and it lacks the spirit, honor, integrity and sportsmanship expected of a sporting body. Let me just remind you of what you and myself has agreed upon.
MDSB has been in hibernation with no significant dancesport activities since December 2007 after the then Sports Director Mr. John Fam resigned.

Agreement to a Joint Ranking by MDSB and MPDC
In 2008 prior to the Batu Pahat 1st Leg Ranking Event, I had, in my capacity as MDSB Vice President & MPDC President called you in your capacity as MDSB President to discuss in details on a joint national ranking to be conducted by MPDC and MDSB. It is because of the inactivity of MDSB, you had agreed with the proposal of joint Ranking and MPDC would undertake to organize the 1st Leg National Ranking at Batu Pahat.

With your agreement, the various documentation on rules & regulations on a 3-Leg National Ranking for the 2008/2009 season was circulated to all concerned and published in the MPDC website for all to see.

Letters were also sent to OCM to inform on the arrangements. You have a record of all our correspondences. You even commented that you are happy that something is done for our dancesport athletes.

We invited you to witness the Championship as President of MDSB but you failed to turn up for reasons known to you.

We have pointed to you in the international scene the relationship of IPDSC and IDSF is one of mutual cooperation and friendship. Likewise we had extended our hands in friendship and did a joint ranking hoping that you would perpetuate the IPDSC/ MDSB spirit in Malaysia. We did not mind at all that you did not contribute anything to the National Ranking. As a matter of fact the OCM challenged Trophy was donated by MPDC for this Joint ranking.

Breach of agreement of Joint ranking by MDSB
MDSB now has openly declared that it does not want to cooperate with MPDC in the ranking matter as it views MPDC as a completely separate entity. By so doing MDSB is going back on their agreement with MPDC. This hostile action by MDSB has brought shame and embarrassment not only to MPDC but also to ADSF and IDSF and IPDSC.

Apart from that, what amazes us is MDSB lack of care and concern for the Dancesport athletes. Is that not the function of the Sporting body like MDSB? The Dancesport athletes have taken part in a ranking competition jointly and now MDSB is doing an about turn denying the athletes the hard work that they have put in with an aim to represent the nation. Whatever points they have accumulated has now gone to the drain.

Does MDSB doubt the integrity of the 1st National Ranking?
Does MDSB doubt the integrity of the Batu Pahat competition on the 24th August or is MDSB playing dirty politics. Let me remind you that the Batu Pahat 1st National ranking was conducted under the watchful eyes of the IDSF Presidium member, who is also the designated Chief Adjudicator of the Competition. The ADSF Sports Director was also present as an adjudicator at the event.

I am now challenging MDSB to fault the conduct and the running of the competition and tell why do you think it should be declared null and void as claimed by MDSB.

The competition ran smoothly up till the Scrutineer whose markings follows the IDSF Pro Dance program and approved by IDSF following the protocol of IDSF.

Silence by MDSB after the 1st National Ranking competition
I have noted that all this while since the 24th of August 2008 after the 1st National ranking, MDSB has not protested or even complained to MPDC, ADSF, IDSF or IPDSC, that the 24th August 2008 competition is an illegal competition conducted by MPDC to be later declared null and void. Why is this so when it was widely publicized in our MPDC website. We would expect you to protest strongly but nothing was forth coming until recently.

Application for 2nd National ranking
After the lapse of 8 months when Mr. Peter Ong of Dancespace who attended a function at the Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur, reported that you as the Vice President of MDSB threaten him that his 2nd National Ranking competition held on the 25th of April 2009 is not recognized by MDSB. It is at this point that it came to our knowledge of the sinister intention of MDSB to sabotage the joint National ranking. What is MDSB motive is something we cannot understand and till to date MDSB has not written to MPDC to explain its intentions.

We only surmise from the circumstances when we saw that MDSB has endorsed an advertised Championship in Melaka as the MDSB 1st Ranking for the 3rd Asian Indoor Games. By that MDSB has openly declared and the
irresistible conclusion that the Joint ranking and the 1st MDSB/MPDC National ranking is not recognized.

President or Vice President of MDSB?
Mr. Peter Ong has described you as the Vice President of MDSB. I had know you at all times that you are the President of MDSB and that I was the Vice President of MDSB. When were you elected as the Vice President is something that I am totally am not aware of. However whether you are the President or Vice President of MDSB, it matters not to me. You are a person in authority and have full knowledge of the intention and design of MDSB.

Poor treatment by MDSB against its own member and refusal to sanction an IDSF run competition.
We also have taken note that Mr. Peter Ong a member of MDSB and also a council member of MPDC has on the 31st of March 2009 written to MDSB with all humility to reconsider their application to sanction his competition as a ranking competition or alternatively if it is untenable to just sanction his competition has met with a wall of silence. This conduct by MDSB is unacceptable for it borders on arrogance by MDSB.

Can you tell me what is MDSB agenda against Mr. Peter Ong in withholding its sanction? We also note the fact that your IDSF International adjudicator Mr. Lee Yoke Seong (YS Lee) has also confirmed the fact that he refused to adjudicate in the 2nd National Ranking on the 25th April 2009 on grounds that it is not a recognized competition. We can assume that Mr. YS Lee must have acted on MDSB instructions.

This is highly insulting and unusual to ADSF and IDSF especially when top IDSF officials are invited to judge the 2nd ranking competition.

MDSB alleged involvement of OCM secretary
You have also alleged that Dato Sieh Kok Chi has endorsed that the first ranking declared by you in Melaka was with the advice from your current MDSB committee and Datuk Sieh who is on board with this. Be that as it may, we find this hard to believe for we understand that the Secretary of OCM role is purely advisory in nature. We will present our report to the Olympic Council of Malaysia and we will be able to ascertain the truth of what you have claimed.

Mr. Apache Yong, MPDC cannot allow this to happen as it has caused confusion and anxiety for the National Dancesport athletes. It has also tarnished the reputation of MPDC. MDSB poor conduct leave us with no choice but to report MDSB unethical conduct to the IDSF and IPDSC legal commission. We will also be presenting a report to the Olympic Council of Malaysia to explain the situation.

We are still perplexed by your hostile stand and we will leave it to IDSF and IPDSC to resolve this matter in Malaysia that we hope will be soon. You have not given me as President of MPDC the courtesy of a reply or an explanation as to what is bothering MDSB. We cannot assist you.

Without any facts before MPDC to consider, we are interpreting your conduct as hostile and highly prejudicial to the interest in the promotion of Dancesport in Malaysia.

As a professional body, it is MPDC duty and considered opinion that MDSB is not a fit and proper body to represent IDSF or promote the interest of IDSF and IPDSC in Malaysia.

Yours faithfully,
George Tan
C.C.
Olympic Council of Malaysia


Do you know what was MDSB reply to MPDC President? You would like to know what MDSB's reply to Mr. Peter Ong's letter of 31st March 2009 asking for MDSB to sanction and endorsed his event. Ah! wait for Part 3.

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.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

How many of you know his name and recognise him? He is Chief Geronimo and he is an Apache. This actually is testing your general knowledge on American history. Chief Geronimo is a brave warrior and an honourable man. He does not speak with fork tongue.

Anyway that is all for Apache, someone send me a clip from you tube, a Hippo sings "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". It is so cute and would love to share this with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUMwu_gXK7Q .

One of you ask me what has this got to do with Dancesport? Actually it has everything to do with Dancesport and this Blog is the MPDC Sports Directors Blog. Would love to hear cute and happy songs in times of the crisis in Thailand.