It is times like these when I miss Datuk Sieh Kok Chi more than ever.
The Football Association of Malaysia’s forged documents scandal involving seven players, the letter from World Athletics regarding Malaysia Athletics president Datuk Karim Ibrahim’s eligibility to hold office, and the suspension of the Malaysia Pickleball Association – Malaysian sport has been hogging the limelight for the wrong reasons. And the list goes on.
For those of us who have spent decades chronicling Malaysian sport, the one person who would have jumped on these issues was none other than Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, OCM’s longest-serving honorary secretary.
When Sieh was with OCM, he spoke. No, in fact, he roared. He was praised by some, rubbished by others. But Sieh, a former national water polo player turned sports administrator, was always willing to provide his views.
And views matter, for we can reflect and see from the lens of another.
Information flowed with purpose – just like Sieh’s messy table that greeted visitors – filled with knowledge, education and documents that would make great bedtime reading.
He was an administrator who understood that the media was not an adversary, but an essential partner in shaping public discourse. He never said no to a comment – not to me at the very least.
Sieh engaged – actively and intelligently – with journalists, including yours truly. He returned calls and messages. He clarified issues. At times, he would email scenarios and ask for views. He contextualised decisions. And, perhaps most importantly, he trusted seasoned reporters to handle nuance.
The result was not just better reporting, but a more informed sporting public.
Those ‘golden nuggets’ he offered were never accidental. They reflected a deep understanding that sport does not exist in a vacuum.
Governance, athlete welfare, funding structures, politics – these are complex, layered issues. Sieh recognised that explaining them was not a burden. It was a responsibility.
Following Sieh’s demise in 2022, that ethos appears to have disappeared.
The OCM is the umbrella body of 58 national associations in Malaysia. It is affiliated with the most powerful international sports organisation – the International Olympic Committee. It has more clout than the Youth and Sports Ministry, and rightfully so.
Yet statements are sparse. Access is somewhat limited. Responses, when they come, are carefully sanitised. The human element – the willingness to speak candidly like Sieh and to provide insight beyond the surface – is conspicuously absent. Sieh’s fiery spirit is sorely missed.
This matters more than administrators may realise. In fact, the passive attitude cements the view that OCM is indeed a “glorified tour agent”.
In a rapidly evolving media landscape, where misinformation can spread as quickly as fact, silence creates a vacuum. And vacuums are rarely filled with clarity. They invite speculation, erode trust, and ultimately distance the very audience that sports bodies seek to engage.
In a world where wrong is being manufactured to become right, and where ‘fans’ do not understand the workings within the sports fraternity, the OCM plays a vital role as an educator.
It is not just about the negatives.
Malaysian sport is not short of stories. From the struggles of grassroots development to the ambitions of elite athletes on the Olympic stage, there are stories waiting to be told. But storytelling requires access, context, and cooperation.
The contrast with Sieh’s era is stark. He understood that transparency was not weakness – it was strength. He allowed for better stories to be told.
There can never be another Sieh. But perhaps the lesson from his legacy is this: information, when shared with purpose, becomes influence. And influence, when wielded responsibly, strengthens the very fabric of sport.
Until that lesson is relearned, the silence will continue to speak volumes.
