BANGI, Sept 20 — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has called on the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM) and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (MOM) to follow the Road to Gold (RTG) committee’s model for managing sponsorships and athlete rewards, to avoid a repeat of the controversy involving national para-badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said RTG took a proactive step by ensuring all sponsorship pledges to athletes were formalised in contracts before the start of sporting events.
“When our athletes went to the Paris Olympics, many companies offered RM1 million and various rewards if they won a gold medal.
“What RTG did was get all the sponsors to sign contracts, and I see a need for MOM and MPM to adopt the same approach,” she told reporters after officiating the 20th Convocation of the Youth and Sports Skills Training Institute (ILKBS) here today.
Earlier, media reports said Cheah had accused MPM of being “dishonest” on social media for failing to pay the RM60,000 cash incentive promised to him after he won gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Cheah’s frustration also drew Yeoh’s attention, with the minister criticising MPM’s plan to issue a show-cause letter to the athlete.
Yeoh stressed that the matter should not be treated as a disciplinary breach, as the Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist was merely asking for what was promised.
“Athletes like Cheah have brought honour to the country and should not face action just for voicing disappointment over delayed or unfulfilled rewards.
“This is a simple matter to resolve. There’s no need for a middleman. If a promise is made, fulfil it. If it cannot be fulfilled, explain why and improve the process. There’s no need to suspend the athlete,” she said.
Yeoh added that KBS would not support any move to suspend or take disciplinary action against Cheah and that it was time to improve the current governance system.
On Thursday, MPM president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said the council was considering legal action against Cheah, claiming his social media comments on the unpaid incentive had tarnished the reputation of MPM and its sponsors.
He added that MPM would not hesitate to suspend the athlete from competing in future major events. — Bernama
