Datuk Lee Chong Wei to be...

Datuk Lee Chong Wei on Aug 30 2008.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will award a Datukship to badminton singles player Lee Chong Wei, 26, who won the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas would confer the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the title Datuk, on Lee on Aug 30. "The state will award the DSPN to Penang's first Olympic silver medallist, Bukit Mertajam home-grown talent Lee Chong Wei," Lim told a press conference Wednesday.

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Chong Wei, 26 will join squash queen Datuk Nicol David as one of the youngest sports recipients of the award. He alrdy get his RM 300K rewards and will be getting RM 3k montly pension starting next month. WOW..he gonna be rich man! And the first ever sportman of Malaysia that can actually make living with sports particularly badminton. Some see this as a political gimmick. While BN are to give such money rewards to him, the Penang Government are giving the title of Datukship to him. Hmm.. He is such a lucky person to beg the best from to the intense competition btw both parties.

Questions arised. Is he good enough to be conferred the Datukship?? If he win the Final and bring back the Gold medal, I think nobody will question it. Problem is yes he is able to march into Final, but for those who see the live telecast, he is in no match to compared to Lin Dan. The score points in both game are less than 21. Chong Wei was beaten 12-21, 21-8 by world number one Lin Dan of China. The game is totally dominated by Lin Dan and Chong Wei couldnt catch to his pace. We should be proud that he is the first Malaysian to eneter into men's singles final but I do not agree to the extend of rewards given to him. It's just too much. Congaryulation to Lee and Misbun Sidek too. We have proved that we need not Li Mao or any other foreign coaches, a LOCAL will do. Sports are everything putting aside the difference in races. This is the best example which Malaysians (regardless of races) can work together to archieve the same goals. In that case, how bout Rexy? He is good coach but something goes wrong with our admired young player of KKK and TBH.

Lets look to the past history. Rashid Sidek won the bronze medal in the men's singles while his brothers Jalani-Razif won the country's first Olympic medal after clinching the bronze in the men's doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Then, the nation's first Olympic silver medallists in badminton was delivered by doubles pair Yap Kim Hock-Cheah Soon Kit at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Singles coach Misbun Sidek is the former national player who has sacrificed for the nation and is instrumental in charting Malaysia's quest for an Olympic medal for the past 12 years. This can be seen in Rashid's bronze medal and Hafiz Hashim winning the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games followed by the All-England title in 2003 to Chong Wei's Olympic silver medal. Hafiz has ended the country's 37-year old wait for the All-England singles crown which was last won by Tan Aik Huang in 1966. However, nobody will question on Hafiz as we all know his performance. I hope he will be dropped from Malaysia team as soon as possible together with supposed to be retired Wong Chong Hann. Their presence in badminton has expired and left with no glory.

Misbun left his ailing wife Latifah Mohd who is suffering from a double kidney failure and needs regular dialysis treatment to accompany Chong Wei to Beijing. This is not the first time Misbun has placed the nation ahead of his family. In 1996 he lost his eldest daughter, seven-year-old Lia Nurmila, when she was knocked down by a school bus in Wangsa Maju, a month prior to the Atlanta Games.

Source: Malay Mail

In comparison to Nicol David, none will question her as she remained the World No.1 in squash for 1 year ++ till now and has a long unbeaten records. Let's compare with Lee Chong Wei who once in the World No. 1 for max 3 months be4 dropping down then goes up and down again. Why no awards be given to Malaysia first medal in Olympics? Why no awards has be given to Malaysia first silver medalists although it is a double event? Why no awards be given to Misbun Sidek as the silver medalist coach and other achievements? And why Datukship +RM 300K+ 3K pension is given only to the first silver medalist in men singles of badminton?

The question is all about timing. The timing for his achievement is just precise suit to the new government in Penang and Permatang Pauh by-election. However, this is just my opinion. I left you to think and to decide should I made any mistakes.

The country proud: First Men Single Silver Medalist --> DATUK LEE CHONG WEI