National women's hockey player Hanis Nadiah Onn has been indefinitely suspended from representing the country over her allegedly racist remark about the concert of famous Indian composer AR Rahman.
This includes the SEA Games 2023, set to take place in Cambodia in May, the Youth and Sports Ministry said in a statement today.
According to the ministry, the decision was taken by a joint committee formed by the National Sports Council (MSN) and the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (KHM).
"KHM will re-evaluate the decision if Hanis displays a positive change of attitude throughout the period.
"The committee hopes that this action will serve as a reminder and lesson to Hanis and other national athletes to always be careful with their social media postings," read the statement.
According to the ministry, Hanis (above) had expressed regret over her actions, publicly apologised for it, and taken remedial steps by deleting the offensive posting.
"Hanis stressed that she was not a racist, as she grew up in a multiracial community in Kluang, Johor, and has many Indian friends.
"The committee also contacted the national women's hockey team coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim, who attested to Hanis' humble and disciplined conduct during practice sessions and tournaments," said the statement.
'Comment tarnished team's image'
Despite all these, the committee still found Hanis guilty of the offensive posting which raised racial sentiments.
"As a national hockey player, Hanis was found guilty of issuing a comment that tarnished the image of the team and the KHM, which goes against the confederation's ethics."
Last month, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh ordered a probe into Hanis' posting on social media, which went viral online.
Hanis has left a comment on an Instagram post related to Rahman's concert at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on Jan 28, implying it would have been "smelly" in the 70,000-strong crowd.
She posted an apology on her Instagram story after her comment courted backlash, and said that during her decade-long involvement in hockey, she was “surrounded by friends of all races who fought for Malaysia”.
Former minister Rafidah Aziz also weighed in on the matter, saying there is no place in this nation for those who belittle a racial group or race. - Mkini
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