KUALA LUMPUR: Former Asean Para Games swimmer Koh Lee Peng made her own decision 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.”
“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 the government plans 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.
Ti also said welfare and group personal accident insurance were offered to athletes under the National Sports 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 cards during the (hospital) registration process,” he said.
He said 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. KUALA LUMPUR: Former Asean Para Games swimmer Koh Lee Peng made her own decision 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.
“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 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 the government plans to roll out social protection schemes.
