The "ghost" of Malaysian hockey's "match fixing" allegation is still lingering around.

Well over a year and a half, there were sufficient media report on the allegation of match fixing. MHF made a police report and apparently nothing came out of it. Nothing further was done and once again it was hoped that the memories of such allegations would fade away. The media especially the Malay Mail periodically raised the issue but MHF did nothing to bring the matter to closure.

Such being the status it is still much talked about matter in various circles of the hockey fraternity. When certain names are mentioned, swiftly "match fixing" through betting becomes the conversation. It is sad for the situation to have come to this position and the reason being the hockey authorities have permitted it. If the players know about it, it must be torturous particularly if they are innocent of the allegations.

Indeed the matter came to its climax at the Champions Challenge II at Dublin where the national hockey team came 4th. Rumours seem to indicate that Malaysia could have done better but strangely certain players missed open chances to score. It is further rumoured that video replays seem certain to reflect such negative intentions. Sometimes there is a fixation because of the "ghosts" on match fixing that is haunting us and therefore such conclusions are easily derived.

The "ghosts" would not have existed if MHf had moved aggressively at the height of the problem and investigated the matter. Their act of omission by not setting up a Committee has permitted the matter to linger and destroy both the credibility of innocent players and Malaysian hockey itself. Why did MHF not undertake such an investigation is "mind blogging". The legal presumption of innocence until proven otherwise seem not to hold because MHF had not brought the matter to closure.

Had MHF conducted the investigation and come to the necessary conclusions the matter would have "rested" in some ways. MHF's failure has put unnecessary pressure on players and literally when they make genuine mistakes in the field they would be accused as part of a conspiracy of "match fixing". That is the dilemma MHF has left Malaysian hockey today.

It is now an "open secret" that as selection for the World Cup qualifiers takes place, certain names would draw unusual comments from hockey lovers. It is a pity for such players and also the officials because there is no proof or evidence of conclusions to omit such players. Selecting them only raises the doubts especially when they mess up their play in the qualifiers. The lingering doubts may yet again come to haunt Malaysian hockey. Yet! the dismal performance could really be part of an innocent"off day" for the player. It is a dilemma that was allowed to be perpetuated by MHF themselves and they would have to live with their act of omission while Malaysian hockey maybe the ultimate loser.