There is a new man at the helm of the Malaysian Chess Federation.
THE transition went smoothly at the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF)’s annual general meeting last Sunday, and it was over within a minute. When nominations were called for the position of the MCF president, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib’s name was proposed and seconded.
No other name was nominated and, when the election officer announced the closure of nomination, that was that. Ramli had been elected as the new MCF president, replacing the retiring 82-year-old Datuk Tan Chin Nam.
Datuk Tan Chin Nam, also known as the ‘Father of Malaysian Chess’, calls it a day after being MCF president for 14 years.
This was not the first time that Tan has stepped down as MCF chief. He was the MCF’s founding president from 1974 until 1986 when he decided to give way and allow Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, then the Federal minister in charge of culture, arts and tourism, to take over.
It was not until two years ago that Tan was persuaded to step back into the picture as MCF’s interim president to fill a position left vacant by the then incumbent who did not wish to be re-elected. But Tan made it very clear that the MCF would have to find a new president when his own two-year term expired.
So in the past two years, MCF officials had been quietly meeting people who could potentially step into Tan’s big shoes. The tempo increased earlier this year and, finally, they had Ramli’s agreement to take over the president’s post.
Glowing tributes have been pouring in for Tan ever since he decided to retire a second time as president. “Father of Malaysian Chess” was how Abu Mansor, a former MCF deputy president, fondly described Tan.
But of course, Tan still remains as the MCF’s first and only honorary life president. This unique recognition was given to him when he first stepped down 22 years ago. It still applies to him today.
Earlier, when Tan addressed the delegates at the start of the meeting, he had referred to himself as an “old chess piece” that needed a rest.
Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib is MCF’s new president.
“We have come a long way in the past 35 years, especially in the area of youth chess, and the future appears bright,” he said. “But new blood must necessarily lead the journey forward,” he added.
He stressed that although he was leaving the organisational and political side of chess, he would still be involved with the game. Looking at the delegates with a glint in the eye, he said: “I am not saying goodbye to you, and I’m certainly not saying goodbye to chess.”
“Since I’m still basically a ‘youngster’ in chess, I intend to get better at the game. I may no longer be making moves in the MCF but I shall continue making moves over the chessboard every single day. So farewell MCF, and hello, all my chess friends,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ramli did not waste any time in getting down to business. In his address to the delegates after the election, he reminded his new MCF council members and the state chess associations that a lot still has to be done to popularise the game, especially at the grassroots levels. “Let’s all work towards greater recognition and a stronger chess community here,” he said.
Finally, I’d just like to say that the national closed chess championships ended on Wednesday, and the new national champions are Edward Lee and Alia Azwa Anin Bakri.
Alia won the women’s title. A full report will be made in the coming weeks but, in the meantime, here is an interesting encounter from the fifth round.
White: Leong Mun Wai (Johor)
Black: Abang Mohammad Reduan (Sarawak).
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 Qa5 12. 0-0-0 Rfc8 13. h5 Nxh5 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17. Ne2 Qc5 18. Kb1 Nf6 19. Nf4 e6 20. Qg5 Kg7 21. Nh5+ Nxh5 22. Rxh5 Rh8 23. f4 h6 24. Qg3 Kf8 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Rxd7 exf4 27. Qxf4 1-0
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(This story originally appeared in The Star on 9 Jun 2008)