Well done, Barisan Nasional, if I may say. Ever since our badminton World Champion hopefuls - Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong - were featured in the exhibition match in the run-up to the recent Machap by-election, they have turned from hopefuls into almost hopeless.

Yesterday at the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, they again went down tamely to a Chinese pair whom they beat a few times en route to the Asian Games' gold medal and the All England title. To rub salt into the wound, they even lost to an English pair whom was thought to be below their level.

Not only did BN used them as their pawns to 'win' the by-election, the states which Koo and Tan hail from have also happily given them huge amounts of money. Well, I suppose that is the way BN shows it appreciation to the rakyat.

Hasn't it been evident that whenever our athletes (at least in badminton) are given huge amounts of money after achieving some results, they end up without a future? Let's talk about the Thomas Cup 1992 winning team and Hafiz Hashim after winning the All England. What have they all turned out to be?

I am not at all suggesting that their achievements should not be recognised, but it must be done a bit at a time. Moreover, they should not at all be used as political 'instruments' by any political party.

May I suggest that the people's hard-earned tax money be spent more wisely? Not only is BN wasting money by giving out 'awards' to these athletes, they are also cheating the rakyat when the coaches (who the BAM and NSC are paying a huge amount in salaries) are unable to keep the players in top condition.