PETALING JAYA: This is not the way to treat two-time Paralympic badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has come out with guns blazing to support Liek Hou after the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) announced earlier that they were prepared to take action against the para shuttler for voicing his frustrations via social media.
Liek Hou had criticised PCM for not delivering on their promise of rewarding him RM60,000 for capturing gold in the Paris Paralympics a year after the showpiece event.
PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin though denied promising the 37-year-old RM60,000 and have decided to take action against Liek Hou for 'slandering' the organisation. He said they could ban him from competing in major Games.
Hannah was quick to defend Liek Hou.
"Sponsors want to support and celebrate athletes' achievements, not just to provide funding for PCM," said Hannah via social media.
"This is not the way to treat Liek Hou, who has brought glory to Malaysia. Liek Hou is a hardworking athlete. Every time he competes, he wins medals for Malaysia.
"He did not cross any disciplinary lines. He is merely asking for what he was promised a year after he won gold in the Paris Paralympics.
"This is not a disciplinary issue but caused by the delay by PCM.
"Liek Hou is under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is fully funded by the National Sports Council (NSC).
"Any decisions regarding him should not be made solely by PCM. PCM have no rights to make any decisions on their own," added Hannah.
