He definitely tried to rape me: Cindy Ong tells of harrowing experience with coach

KUALA LUMPUR – In her tell-all on her alleged sexual harassment and assault by a national coach when she was a teenager, former national swimmer Cindy Ong said the latter had “definitely tried to rape” her.

Ong, who hails from Ipoh, Perak, spoke extensively about her experience and alleged that the coach had touched her breast during one of her competitions abroad.

For the first time today, at a Facebook Live forum by the PKR Youth legal bureau titled “Sexual Harassment in the Sports Industry”, Ong revealed more details of her harrowing experience with the same coach years later when she was in her 20s.

At that time, Ong said she still touched base with the coach because they were in the same swimming fraternity.

The seven-time-gold medallist at the Fina World Championship Masters category (for those aged 35-39) said she “tried to bury it deep down” as she had gone to the United States to study, so they didn’t see each other often.

“For some reason and I cannot remember, this was so long ago, somehow I ended up at his apartment because he said he wanted to show me something at his house.

“He took a shower and came out in his towel, grabbed my hand and had me touch him. He definitely tried to rape me,” she alleged.

Ong said she had never spoken to anyone about it, adding: “It was a very awkward and uncomfortable situation. ‘How do I get myself out of this?’

“I just couldn’t. Not when I was 20, not when I was 13, especially not when I was 13,” she said.

Not wanting to get caught in a political tug-of-war

The mother of three said following her revelation to the media, she faced a lot of backlash and harsh criticism for not speaking out earlier.

She said her intention was not to draw attention to herself, but to increase awareness that such heinous acts do happen in the sports industry.

However, she did not want to politicise her issue as she did not wish to be caught in a political tug-of-war.

“Right now, I really wish for the sexual harassment bill to be tabled. I want to make myself very clear that it has to be bipartisan.

“I don’t want to be stuck in a political battle between a few people. I really hope all Malaysians and politicians can come together, shake hands, and get this done,” she said.

New narrative to change deep-rooted culture

Meanwhile, Wanita PKR legal bureau chairman Fadhlina Siddiq, who also spoke during the forum, said there should be a new narrative to change deep-rooted culture that normalises sex and rape jokes.

“The new narrative must speak about a new ecosystem that is safe, human rights, and the moral aspect of a human being and (how he or she behaves) towards another human being.

“We must be active bystanders when faced with a sexual harassment situation or violence against women. We must know when to intervene and truly make it a phenomenal scenario so that people know that it is only right to call them out,” she said.

Implement filters in the system

Another panellist, Richard Wee, who is also on the panel of the Youth and Sports Ministry, said deterrent measures such as a mechanism of training and coaching should be implemented to ensure that only those who are truly eligible can become coaches.

“There must be some kind of filter to ensure those involved in the sports industry are there because they are interested in sports and not to grope athletes.

“That is something we need to put into place. Admittedly, it is not an easy process.

“If we are to really address this topic, we must find a way to put deterrent measures in place, which is far more effective than having a system where we only do something about it after we discover that there is harassment involved,” he said.

It was reported that Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican has ordered his officers and the National Sports Council to help Ong lodge a report on the acts committed against her during her swimming days. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021