It appears that the government certainly has a problem with getting its priorities right, as shown by its decision to blow RM490 million on a sports academy in London. This latest extravagance is all for the sake of getting Malaysian athletes and national teams to adapt to the cold weather.

Call it a hidden agenda or plain stupidity but the rationale has no acceptable basis. If one can at all think of a reason, it is that this 'development' will give politicians yet another excuse to jet abroad in the name of work and give themselves a treat in London at the expense of taxpayers.

And this at a time, when the government has advised the people to keep a moderate lifestyle to offset the impact of increased petrol prices.

When Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said in a Parliamentary written reply to Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang announced the decision, little did she realise that the public had become all too tired of 'sponsoring' yet another controversial project. Hence their objection to this mega-project.

Azalina offered the lame excuse of wanting to give national athletes and teams the chance to adapt to temperate weather and in locating them closer to countries that excel in sports. Will this colossal project also benefit disabled athletes?

The academy will serve as a short-term training centre and as a 'forwarding base' for athletes who will be competing in Europe. As the site in Hertfordshire would be close to the 2012 London Olympic Village, the government believes that the academy, if managed well, could yield a return equal to the massive investment.

Should it take shape, the academy had better be managed by the most qualified individuals and not by cronies. There have been one too many ambitious projects falling into the wrong hands and leaving the coffers empty.

Malaysians cannot fathom why the government has to spend RM490 million on a nonsensical project. What has gone wrong with the government's grey matter that it feels 'compelled' to make a decision without seeking public opinion on a project that is so absurdly expensive?

Putrajaya, the Petronas Twin Towers building and Kuala Lumpur International Airport were all built to impress the world about Malaysia's ability to produce the ''biggest' this and 'largest' that. Sadly, practicality has never been Malaysia's forte, as the academy project has confirmed.

Key to winning

Knowing how the system works, if the government is bent on spending a stupendous amount on a frivolous project, then the money will be spent. The lack of transparency and information over the academy project does not speak well of the government, not when it is led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who preaches honesty.

Azalina should know that crossing geographical borders does not guarantee gold medals in any international sporting event, if the mentality of the athletes does not match up. As they say, it is all in the mind.

Malaysian athletes do not have to be in London to assure people back home that it is only by being trained on foreign soil that they can deliver. It is not where the players train that makes the difference, but their attitude towards to their sport.

When the Thomas Cup made its debut in 1949 in Preston, England, it was Malaya (then) which took the badminton trophy home after beating Denmark 8-1. The victory was repeated in 1952, 1955, 1967 and 1992. Except for the 1992, played in Kuala Lumpur, all the victories were achieved by our players while playing on foreign soil.

How is it that, back then, excellence in badminton was the nation's forte in spite of the 'simple' training facilities? It took Malaysia 25 years to reclaim the silver-plated cup in 1992 from Indonesia, located just a stone's throw away.

Forget about winning the Uber Cup, the international badminton team tournament for women. Only the US, Japan, China and Indonesia have charted Uber Cup victories since its inception in 1957. Even when the tournament was hosted by Kuala Lumpur in 1984, 1988 and 1992, it was China that emerged victorious. Have Azalina and her think-tank pondered why?

Boost sports culture

Has anyone in the cabinet committee on sports development, which Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak chair, given any thought as to why our athletes have miles to go in attaining excellence in performance, despite having sufficient infrastructure at their disposal?

One reason is the absence of exemplary sportsmanship within the sports fraternity. There is simply too much 'interference' in managing sports associations by certain politicians and members of royalty.

It is imperative for politicians to stay out of the picture when it comes to sports. Does Azalina have what it takes to clear the weeds within the sports fraternity and put in place only the best who can develop teams without fear or favour?

Speaking of the best, one wonders whatever happened to the Malaysian Sports Science Academy? With its mission of wanting to create an active sports culture in which women and men are encouraged to participate, the academy seems to have gone into oblivion.

Could this academy mould and motivate Malaysian athletes towards excellence instead? Is the RM490 million project necessary on the pretext of national glory?

Taxpayers would have to forgo better infrastructure, public transportation system or education scholarships because the government has declared a shift in priority - to supposedly raise the standard of Malaysian athletes on the global front.

It is very clear that Malaysia has failed to create a 'sports culture' and no amount of money will guarantee the country an Olympic gold medal or debut at the Fifa World Cup if the mindset of the athletes remains inferior.

Instead of splashing money on a mindless project, it would do the nation good to find out what is causing the decay in sportsmanship and performance among the athletes. Shortcuts will not improve the situation, as Azaline must realise.