KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed her disappointment over the action taken by the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) in issuing a show-cause letter to national para-badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou.
In a post on her Facebook account, Hannah stated that Liek Hou did not violate any disciplinary code and that his actions were simply to claim what was promised to him one year after winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“This is not a disciplinary issue, but one caused by MPC’s own delay. Liek Hou is under the care of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is fully funded by the National Sports Council (NSC).
“Any decision regarding Liek Hou’s status is not solely in the hands of the MPC. The MPC does not have the right to act on its own,” said Hannah.
The minister’s comments were in response to the MPC’s decision to take legal action against the athlete after he claimed the organisation was a “failure” on social media for not fulfilling its promise of a Paris 2024 Paralympic Games reward.
Hannah described Liek Hou as a diligent athlete who consistently brings pride to the country through his achievements on the world stage and she added that sponsors support and celebrate the success of athletes, not just the MPC.
In a previous press conference, MPC President Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin said he would take legal action against the para-badminton player, adding that the MPC was also considering suspending the player from participating in any related sporting events.
According to media reports, Megat D. Shahriman announced last year that a cash reward of RM60,000 awaited each athlete who won a gold medal at the prestigious event.
The reward was an incentive provided by three external companies to motivate national athletes to hunt for gold in Paris 2024.
–BERNAMA
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