STATEMENT FROM FELINE SOCIETY OF MALAYSIA (FSM)
ON CAT FRIENDS OF ASIA SHOW ON APRIL 13, 2008

Background of The Show

Earlier, in January 2008, we were approached by Zamina (a club member, former president and advisor) about the possibility of organizing one more show in April before the end of the show season so that she could secure the Divisional Winner title for her premiership cat. The club agreed with her proposal provided that she could secure us the sponsorship money within a certain period of time.

Later, (through her contact) we were approached by USJ-Summit to submit the proposal to organize the cat show at their place. Our EXCO Committee, Jimmy Lee, went to see their representatives, to survey the show hall and to discuss the show proposal with them. The discussion was very positive and they were very keen to work with FSM for the show in April, 2008. The representative promised us to work out with her bosses pertaining to the sponsorship.

But later, we were informed by Zamina through her email to our secretary on February 26, that USJ Summit declined our proposal due to their budget constraints and she clearly affirmed to us that the impending April show would not occur.

That’s why we feel betrayed by our own members when they announced that a show will be held in USJ Summit on April 13 but to be organized by a different body and not FSM. It’s simply shows that they have been planned it earlier behind our back.

This act serves only to siphon away sponsors and divide the club. We cannot tolerate jeopardizing the club in such a way for the benefit of only one or two individuals. Furthermore, we have evidence of them trying to negatively influence and manipulate our existing members. Obviously, they are not giving any benefit to the club but serves only to disrupt the unity of our members and jeopardize the club!


Feline Fanciers Society of Singapore (FFSS)

We are made to understand that earlier, the Cat Friends of Asia organizers approached another CFA cat club in Asia to get their consent to use their club in applying for a CFA show license. But apparently that club refused to co-operate with them because they did not want to go against FSM and interfere with our internal affairs. We must salute them for their understanding and professionalism on this matter.

But we are really disappointed and disgusted with FFSS for their intervention in our internal affairs even though they know what is actually going on here (there is a possibility that they are doing it for the business benefit of some of their members). For the record, this is the second time they have tried to interfere in our club affairs. They failed to do so last year.

We hope we will not have to suffer like Singapore where another club emerged as the result of the conflicts within the existing club. We can see how they waste some of their time to quarrel with each other.


The Issuance of the Show License

We strongly believe that CFA is legally and morally wrong to issue a show license to Feline Fanciers Society of Singapore (FFSS) to organize a CFA show in Malaysia. We wonder why Darrell as the ID Chair approves such practice since he personally knows and is aware of our situation. Somebody from CFA should at least consult us for reference prior to the approval of the license.

This kind of practice will never serve the development of cat fancy anywhere. It will only promote splitting in the existing clubs.

We, as the only CFA affiliated club in Malaysia definitely feel insulted and dishonored by the decision. There is no point in having a CFA affiliated club if any club or anyone can organize a CFA show. In other words, what is the benefit of having a CFA club if non CFA clubs can also organize CFA shows by getting a license from any other CFA affiliated club, including one from a different country.


Bob Zenda’s Interference

Bob Zenda is the CFA International Liaison for Asia, the post appointed by ID Chair, Darrell Newkirk. We are still wondering about his actual scope of work here. Maybe we need to have clear guidelines in the CFA constitution or any related by-law/regulation concerning his actual scope of work so that he will not go beyond the limit.

Obviously from the communication between him and Adilah Roose in the CFA Asia yahoo list recently, he is the one who is backing them up and helping the organizers with his best endeavor to secure a show license to the non existent CFA club. Something fishy and a planned conspiracy is obvious from their communication which we believe will cause detrimental effect to the future of cat fancy.

His interference in the club’s affairs has been known to us from the very beginning. We still remember when we contracted Sheila Mizzi to judge in our show last year, he wrote to Mr Wilson Ng ( a former FSM president) that she would not be a good choice for us and will cause trouble to the club. He even advised us that it would be better to use the same judges repeatedly in the shows so that they ( the judges) will know our campaigning cats ( we will use the correspondence between him and Wilson which we still have to file a protest against him later).

We also still remember how he interfered with our Award Show last year. He made his own conclusion after listening to only one side of the story and without consulting any of the newly appointed club’s personnel. He failed to be objective and gather information from all involved and ended up assaulting our club publicly.

His acts of favoritism are too much and will definitely harm the development of CFA in this region. We are afraid that with these types of dirty politics, people will lose their interest in CFA and cat fancy in this region.


FSM Decision

Pursuant to our Exco meeting on March 29, 2008, we hereby unanimously agree to take action as follows:

1. We will appoint and instruct our lawyer to obtain the Interim Injunction Order from the court to stop the show. We have been advised by our panel of lawyers that we have good grounds to file the injunction order.

2. We agree to boycott the show.

3. We will advise all FSM members to refrain themselves from participating in the show or support the show in any manner possible.

4. We will take disciplinary action (according to the club’s constitution) against our members who are involved in organizing the show and directly or indirectly advocating a split within the club.

5. We will file a protest to CFA against the organizer of the show and also the so-called “Cat Friends of Asia”.

6. We will file a protest to CFA against Bob Zenda, regarding his remark in the CFA Asia yahoo list.

7. We agree to boycott the Award Banquet Dinner to be organized by FFSS in July 2008, to show our dissatisfaction over their interference in Malaysia cat fancy affairs and their disrespect towards FSM.

8. We might consider canceling all our planned CFA Show and our club’s affiliation with CFA which we will discuss further in the next EXCO meeting.

 

Any questions, please email FSM at arisham@felinemalaysia.com

Signed,

Mr. Nor Arisham Bakar

(The Honourary Secretary of FSM)