Body defends Malaysia's performance<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has
\ndefended Malaysia's performance at the Southeast Asian Games in
\nThailand after Premier Mahathir Mohamad and senior sports
\nofficials criticized the contingent for a dismal show.<\/p>\n
OCM president Khir Johari said he was happy with the Malaysian
\nteam's performance, although Mahathir and senior officials had
\ndescribed as dismal the 31-gold haul at the recently-concluded
\nbiennial regional games in Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
Some senior sports officials had even blamed Malaysia's French
\nfootball coach Claude Le Roy for the team's failure to reach the
\nsemifinals of the games for the third consecutive time.<\/p>\n
\"We did well considering the circumstances. We must admit the
\nThais are much better and clearly a class above us,\" said Khir,
\nwho led the Malaysian delegation to the games, which ended
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
Khir warned that the negative response and publicity would
\nadversely affect younger athletes preparing for the 1998
\nCommonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
\"What is needed at this stage is to keep calm and re-evaluate
\nour position, \" Khir said, adding that Malaysia had improved when
\nit moved up to fourth position from fifth spot in the Southeast
\nAsian Games in 1993.<\/p>\n
Thailand emerged the champion in the overall medal tally with
\n157 gold medals in the games which saw 10 countries taking part.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was in second spot with 77 gold medals and the
\nPhilippines third with 33 gold medals. Malaysia took fourth spot.
\nMalaysia's National Sports Council had set a 50-gold target while
\nthe OCM had expected 40.<\/p>\n
Last Saturday, Mahathir blamed the team's lack of patriotism
\nand discipline for its dismal performance while Malaysia's deputy
\nchef-de-mission Fadzil Othman said \"Malaysian sports had no
\ndepth\".<\/p>\n
Even Sports Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had called for a review
\nof the poor performance.<\/p>\n
However, Khir said as far the OCM was concerned, the OCM had
\nonly set a 40-gold target for the Malaysian athletes.<\/p>\n
\"We worked towards the target and having failed to reach the
\ntarget is no crime,\" he explained.<\/p>",
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