Ti: Ex-para athlete chose to sell tissues

KUALA LUMPUR: It was former Asean Para Games swimmer Koh Lee Peng’s choice to earn a living by selling tissues, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the issue had been manipulated to make it seem as though she was neglected.

“The para athlete lives in Penang. She came briefly to Kuala Lumpur with her friend and sold tissues.

“This is a business she does. When it happened in Penang the state assemblymen and MPs did not (say anything) but when she came to Bukit Bintang it was made viral as if the athlete was mistreated or not taken care of the government,” he said during the oral question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat Monday (July 25).

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“When I met her, she was very satisfied with what she was doing and asked the public not to disturb her. That is her choice.

"She was doing business and her income was good. Why was this made into an issue and made to seem like it was the government’s problem?

"We have (aid) programmes but it was her choice to sell tissues," he added.

Ti was responding to a supplementary question by June Leow Hsiad Hui (PH-Hulu Selangor) on whether or not the government planned to roll out social protection schemes.

She also touched on the plight of former athletes who were grappling with the cost of living.

Koh recently made the news after she was spotted selling tissue pouches in Bukit Bintang.

Meanwhile, Steven Sim (PH-Bukit Mertajam) said while posing his supplementary question that the deputy minister should not pass the ball to the state government when it is the ministry's job.

Sim also asked if the National Sports Council had any plans to give jobs or procurement contracts to athletes such as Koh.

In response, Ti said he was not passing the ball to the state government and lawmakers, adding that he too had used available avenues to help athletes.

Ti also said welfare and group personal accident insurance were offered to athletes under the council.

In addition, the National Athletes' Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) also offered several aid programmes to former para athletes.

For example, he said, athletes registered with Yakeb would be exempt from treatment charges at second-class wards in government hospitals under a special medical scheme.

“Former athletes only have to show their Yakeb member card during the (hospital) registration process,” he said.

He added that there were also aid programmes under Yakeb such as outpatient treatment costs, aid for medical support equipment, natural disaster relief, and aid for further studies, among others.

Aside from that, Yakeb has a special quota for children of former athletes for boarding schools, while next of kin are also entitled to funeral expenses.

“The aid given by Yakeb is not only for the short term but there is also long-term aid," he said, replying to Leow's question about assistance given to athletes once they have retired from the sporting scene.