Deputy minister vows to harpoon perpetrators after athletes' sexual assault claim

 

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal will not compromise with those who tarnish the nation's image.

In a social media post this evening, he vowed to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against national athletes.

“I view such allegations seriously and will investigate them to determine the truth,” he added.

Wan Fayshal (above) was responding to a Malaysiakini report, in which swimmer Cindy Ong and another anonymous male swimmer had accused a coach of sexual assault and harassment.

Ong, who has won numerous medals on the international stage, had also alleged that a politician, whom she did not name, offered her a large sum of money in exchange for sex.

Meanwhile, Wan Fayshal made it clear that the welfare and safety of athletes in and out of the arena are of utmost priority.

The deputy minister said his door is always open to Ong and others to discuss the matter further.

“There will be no compromise on wrongdoings. We cannot allow the nation's image to be tarnished,” he added.

Award-winning athlete Cindy Ong

In her interview with Malaysiakini, Ong, 37, recalled an incident when she was a teenager and the coach had touched her breast after telling her to take a nap during a competition abroad.

She said the coach sat next to her on the bed and patted her.

"I was lying on the bed, and he came over and patted my shoulder. Then, his hand went here, there, there..."

As a teenager, Ong, who decided to speak about the issue to raise awareness among young athletes, said she was naive and unsure how to respond.

She later found out from others that the same person had sexually assaulted at least 10 athletes over the years.

Whereas, the male swimmer, who declined to be named, claimed he had seen the same coach masturbating in front of a male swimmer when the latter pretended to be asleep.

According to Ong, the coach, who is no longer with the national team, is still providing private swimming lessons.

“As a parent, and I'm sure other parents would agree, we don't want these predators lurking near our kids," said the mother of three. - Mkini