AND then just like that, the most popular active politician in Indonesia, saw his popularity go down the drain when he poked his nose in the world of sports, causing Indonesia to lose the opportunity to host the 2023 Under 20 FIFA World Cup.
THE moral of the story is politicians should keep their nose out of sports, because the underlying feeling is that they are out to use and abuse sporting associations for their own politicial use, ie to bolster their own political standing.
TAKE for instance, Tengku Zafrul's recent coup in
being annoited READ : as the next Badminton Association of Malaysia President, taking over from the failed politician Norza Zakaria.
WE all know Tengku Zafrul as a Liverpool loving football fan, and not as somebody who has the well being of Badminton in the country at heart.
TENGKU Zafrul has too much on his plate already as the minister in charge of MITI and too many issues that could blow up on his face and embarrass Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, for him to even remotely be the ideal choice to lead Badminton to a new era.
AMONG the scandals that may drag Tengku Zafrul's name are the VIEW : Goldman Sachs 1MDB pay off and his alleged close association with the VIEW : leader of the brutal Indian gang 24.