KUALA LUMPUR – It has been a year since Datuk S. Shamala sent shockwaves through the hockey fraternity by resigning as deputy president of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), citing health reasons without delving into the details.
Since then, Shamala, well-known for her diligence, has shied away from the public eye.
The 51-year-old spent 24 years in the association (1999-2023) and went through several phases of administrative duties within the association.
She began as the Malaysian Women’s Hockey Federation secretary, then became the senior vice-president of MHC, and finally served as its deputy president.
Speaking exclusively to Scoop, Shamala revealed that her departure was not solely due to health concerns but stemmed from a deep sense of personal integrity.
She candidly admitted to resigning because she felt she had failed in her role as deputy president, especially in leading the Speedy Tigers to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
“I have stayed quiet over the past year because I didn’t want to appear as a frustrated former employee who purposely wants to rant towards my previous employer.
“Yes, I did have some health issues in the past, but that was not the sole reason why I left. I felt like I was cheating myself and those who voted for me in power.
“I openly declared that I would quit if we failed to make it to the Olympics in 2019. I honestly felt that I failed as deputy president,” she said when met recently.
Shamala shared her contemplation about resigning – which had been ongoing for a considerable duration – but her decision to stay on till last year was motivated by a sense of responsibility towards the ongoing work within the association.
During the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers in 2019, the top management, including Shamala, was ready to take the fall if the national team did not secure a spot in Japan.
However, the team’s failure to qualify weighed heavily on Shamala’s conscience, prompting her to resign before the 2023-2027 presidential term elections in November.
“The consequences and ripple effect of us not qualifying kept haunting me, and I wanted to be an example in the management to show that I stick to my words.
“As a human being, I always remind myself that I need to honour my word, and there’s nothing more important than that.
“I would have definitely stayed if I thought that myself and the team had been doing a great job, but there is no use in staying in power when I can’t make a change and with things getting worse than before,” added Shamala.
While Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal retained his MHC presidency uncontested for the third consecutive term, Shamala, when asked about making a return to the hockey scene, expressed contentment in her retirement from the game.
“I had a very good 24 years in administration, especially with both the men’s and women’s teams.
“I have enjoyed the experience of going through an entire cycle, and I have nearly led the national teams close to qualifying for the Olympics during my tenure.
“I will not make my return to hockey, and currently, I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I have already given my best for the sport, and I’m proud of my achievements.
“My only hope is for the current leadership to live up to the legacy that I created for years,” added Shamala, who is also a former deputy president of the Selangor Hockey Association.
Her work in development, especially the 1MAS programme and then the National Hockey Development Programme, speaks volumes about her dedication to hockey, which is a significant part of her life.
The 1MAS programme, which was scrapped in 2018, aimed at developing players from scratch, and was a testament to her commitment to widening the talent pool and providing structured coaching for teenagers.
Shamala is currently a full-time professor teaching computer science at Universiti Putra Malaysia. – January 28, 2024