MHC's coaching committee retract proposal to remove Dharmaraj, Lim

Malaysian Hockey Confederation's (MHC) Coaching Committee today withdrew its recommendation to terminate the services of National Junior coach Muhammad Dhaarmaraj Abdullah and 1MAS Hockey Development director Lim Chiow Chuan.

Its Chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah said they instead will leave the matter to the wisdom of the MHC President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah after taking into consideration the views of national hockey head coach, Paul Revington and the initiative by the Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, to resolve the impasse.

The committee during their urgent meeting on Saturday had unanimously agreed to the proposal to remove Muhammad Dhaarmaraj who is the National Junior squad coach and Lim, 1MAS Hockey Development director from their respective positions after the duo had been alleged by Revington as interfering with national team matters.

"In the hindsight the Coaching Committee may have erred with regards to the terminology used, recommend to terminate the two officials, but should have been recommend for action to be initiated against the duo.

"The coaching Committee may have crossed certain boundaries unknowingly," he said in the statement, here, Tuesday.

Revington on Saturday had tendered his resignation to the MHC through an-e-mail after alleging interference from Muhamad Dharmaraj and Lim after about six months in the hot seat.

However, Revington decided to put his quit decision on hold after a meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Monday.

Manjit said his committee was also thankful to Khairy for his initiative to convince Revington to stay as the coach for the World League Semi-Finals in Johor Baharu and optimistic that all matters raised by the South African-born coach will be resolved amicably.

"And we reiterate our faith in the ability of Muhammad Dharmaraj to carry on coaching the National Junior Team for the Junior World Cup in New Delhi (this December)," he said.