PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) will let police investigate the incident where a 12-year-old girl withdrew from a chess tournament purportedly for wearing an “improper” dress.
MCF deputy president Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said that as the tournament director had filed a police report, the federation will cease its investigations.
He said an Investigation Committee (IC) had been formed on April 30 and it was ascertained that the player was not disqualified or forced to withdraw.
Tengku Ahmad also said it had nothing to do with public statements or press conferences by both the tournament director and the chief arbiter of the National Scholastic Chess Championships 2017.
“We trust the police will expedite investigations into this matter and hope the matter can be resolved amicably.
“MCF will extend its fullest co-operation,” he said in a statement.
He also asked all parties not to mention the name of the player as she is a minor.
The girl was allegedly told mid-game that her short-sleeved, knee-length dress was “improper” and deemed “a temptation from a certain angle, far, far away”.
Tournament director Sophian A. Yusof has since claimed that he was not at the scene but was only informed of the situation by the arbiters during their nightly reports.
He also said he was waiting for the chief arbiter, who is currently abroad, to provide a full report on the matter.
He also claimed that, according to the report he received, four arbiters, including one chief arbiter and a female assistant arbiter, had had a discussion and agreed that the girl’s dress, looked short when she was seated as it hiked up her thigh.
Yesterday, Sophian said the chief arbiter was a world-class arbiter and “he knows what he is doing”.
“Who am I to overrule their decision, especially since I was not there?” he said.
The chief arbiter, K.K. Chan, has since been reported as saying that he was considering legal action against the girl’s mother and coach over their claims on Facebook.
Efforts to get the girl’s mother Chin Wai Ling and coach Kaushal Khandhar for further comments were unsuccessful.
