Former national athlete lodges report over lewd video

 

Former national swimmer Cindy Ong has lodged a police report after a stranger sent her a lewd video via social media.

In the report, which was sighted by Malaysiakini, she said she had received an unsolicited video on Instagram on June 4 of a man masturbating.

The clip had been from an account named “Solehunter8”.

Ong later realised that the account could no longer be found after she posted a screenshot of the lewd video on her own account.

In the screenshot, she had tagged the police, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the All Women’s Action Society (Awam).

“I believe this incident has a connection to my recent media statement on sexual harassment in the sports industry.

“This is not the first time I have received such harassment and I hope to put a stop to this.

“The purpose of this report is to ensure Solehunter8 is punished accordingly,” she wrote in her June 5 report.

Last month, Ong, 36 had relayed to Malaysiakini that a former national swimming coach had molested her when she was teenager.

She later learned that the same coach had sexually assaulted at least 10 other athletes over the years.

This man had attempted to harass her again when she was in her 20s.

Another former national swimmer similarly told Malaysiakini that he had seen this coach masturbate in front of a male swimmer some two decades ago. He spoke on condition of anonymity.

The coach in question is no longer with the national swimming team but continues to teach swimming lessons.

Since these allegations surfaced, the National Sports Council (NSC) has reached out to Ong and asked for space to look into the issue.

The NSC said national athletes can report complaints about misconduct or harassment via mace@nsc.gov.my or via phone at 03-8992 9778 or 03-8992 9809.

Both Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican and his deputy Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal have vowed to get to the bottom of Ong’s allegations. - Mkini