MYA stays mum on Kevin Lim

by Devinder Singh / NST Online on 14 Jun 2008 Kevin Lim is one frustrated sailor as the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) keeps mum on whether he will be able to make a record fourth consecutive Olympic appearance in Beijing this August.

Worse still, the MYA has yet to release funding approved by the National Sports Council (NSC) for Kevin’s preparation for the Olympics, leaving him penniless for now.

MYA has also laid claim to Kevin’s Olympic berth but plans to hold a selection event between Kevin and other national sailors in Langkawi next month remains shrouded in mystery.

“MYA is keeping mum about everything including the selection event.

“They have delayed my NSC grant payment which I need to do regattas in Germany. Yet, they have made arrangements for their own sailors to go to those same regattas in Germany,” said Kevin, 32, in an e-mail to Timesport yesterday.

His predicament has thrown Kevin into debt after being forced to first, finance his Olympic qualifying bid through the World Championships in Australia in February, and then to fork out his money to enter competitive regattas in Europe.

“My financial situation has now become urgent. I need the remaining RM25,000 of my grant to pay for my flight, boat charter, accommodation, coaches accommodation, coaches travelling expenses and entry fee for my trip to Germany as well as my living expenses in Sydney, all of which I have charged to my credit card.

“I have supplied MYA (through NSC) receipts amounting to RM94,901 since qualifying for the Olympics till mid-May.

“Since then I have competed in two more regattas in Holland and will be competing in two more regattas in Germany.

“I have also been sending periodic reports in the form of e-mails to both MYA and NSC.”

Kevin believed his woes were about to come to an end when he held clear-the-air-talks with MYA officials last month but said nothing has happened since.

“In addition, after telling me to employ a coach, MYA has failed to pay him and is now trying to put the blame on NSC.”

http://www.nst.com