KUALA LUMPUR – The Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has become the target of the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) at the Dewan Rakyat for allegedly questioning the intention of national platform diver, Datuk Pandelela Rinong, who shared her experience of being sexually harassed and bullied by a former national coach.
During the Dewan Rakyat sitting today, the Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman questioned Ahmad Faizal’s statement and asked about the position of the ministry on sexual harassment issues.
After Syed Saddiq, the Puchong MP, Gobind Singh Deo did the same, by raising Standing Order 12(1), examining Ahmad Faizal’s role as a minister who seemed to be not giving the appropriate support needed by Pandelela and other female athletes in their efforts to stop sexual harassment.
He also questioned Ahmad Faizal’s statement, who asked why Pandelela raised the issue now by reminding Ahmad Faizal that there is no time limit in the Criminal Law.
“There is no time limit for complaint, especially when the complaint is regarding a crime. There is no time limitation in criminal law.
“If there is a complaint, despite it happened a long time ago, actions should be taken. You, as the minister, should set the example. Stand up and support the athletes,” Gobind added.
However, Ahmad Faizal, who is also the MP of Tambun explained that what he meant was the need to understand the details which caused Pandelela to raise the issue again and the status of the ongoing investigation.
According to him, his controversial statement during the news conference yesterday was published out of context. Thus, he urged everyone to refer to the full video clip of the news conference.
“What I was trying to do was to hear from everyone involved, before I can provide an explanation. That was what I said during the news conference.
“I’ve uploaded the full clip on my Facebook for everyone to hear.
“I must ensure that the bad incident that happened to Pandalela would never happen to any other athletes. We must protect our children,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Last night, Pandelela explained that she shared her experience of being sexually harassed by her ex-coach in support to other victims and encourage them to speak up.
“I shared my “not so nice” experience to give awareness to the public, and support for victims out there, who are always in dilemma, whether to speak up or stay silent.
“Most importantly, enabler and their backups shouldn’t be glamorised. Others may forget, but not the victim,” she Twitted.
https://twitter.com/Pandelela_R/status/1452608449309646849
I shared my “not so nice” experience to give awareness to the public, and support for victims out there, who are always in dilemma, whether to speak up or stay silent. Most importantly, enabler and their backups shouldn’t be glamorised. Others may forget, but not the victim.
— Pandelela Rinong (@Pandelela_R) October 25, 2021
Although it was written as a general term, the Tweet was posted merely several hours after Ahmad Faizal had reportedly questioned the motive of Pandalela in raising her sexual harassment experience after ‘such a long time’.
Ahmad Faizal also shared that he has made several personal phone calls to the athletes and met them following Pandalela’s revelation on the sexual harassment.
“I’ve met several athletes on the matter and it is unsuitable for me to talk about this now.
“But I only wanted to understand the whole scenario, why, after such a long time, she issued the statement on her social media,” he said during the National Anti-Doping Seminar 2021 yesterday.
Last Thursday, the
Last Thursday, the national sports was shocked by the revelation by Pandalela that she was a victim of bully by a coach after she reprimanded him for frequently making lewd jokes.
The Rio Olympics 2016 silver medalist said that she merely kept mum or fake a laugh whenever the coach made dirty jokes.
Once, she had enough and she sounded the coach but she got bullied after that.
“Seven years later, he was involved in a rape case. #rapejokeisnotfunny,” Pandalela Twitted.
Continuing her thread, she shared that her darkest moment was that the coach would create problem every year throughout the seven years with the team. None of the athlete could do anything as that particular coach was protected by their own head coach.
Her statement came after a viral video clip showing actor, Fauzi Nawawi entailing his experience of acting out a rape scene with actress, Raja Farah Raja Aziz, as if, rape was a joke.
Fauzi apologised after making that statement.
Earlier, national swimmer, Cindy Ong also told the media that she experienced sexual harassment for years, including from her national coach when she was a teenager. -MalaysiaGazette
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Faizal Azumu met several athletes after Pandalela’s revelation
Pandelela, a victim of ex-coach’s dirty jokes
