KUALA LUMPUR – The subjects of harassment and abuse have long been discussed within the Malaysian sports fraternity, yet many may argue that very little could be done as there have been absences of specific laws, guidelines, or an act to address such matters.
The most recent case that was proactively addressed by the government was probably the revocation of the coaching licence of a Melaka junior volleyball coach who was caught slapping two of his 14-year-old players during a tournament in Kota Tinggi, Johor in December.
The video of the incident went viral on social media platforms, causing the youth and sports and education ministries to speak up and take action within a matter of weeks.
If such an issue had not been made viral, could it have been reported by the victim?
If the victim was then too afraid to come forward, could bystanders do it on their behalf?
According to a high-profile athlete who wishes for anonymity, athletes should learn more about the local laws regarding harassment and abuse.
“This is crucial so they would know how to protect themselves as well as be aware of what rights they possess.
I am not an expert in law, but I do encourage athletes to be brave enough to speak up or seek help from those they can trust.
“At the end of the day, as long as they can be assured that they are protected and not being questioned instead, that is what matters.
“How it is done will be put in the good hands of those in authority,” said the national athlete.
The subject of athletes’ protection and having a healthy and supportive environment to train and compete has been strongly advocated by Safe Sport Malaysia founding president Sarina Sundara Rajah following the Safe Sport movement introduced by the International Olympic Committee.
However, two weeks ago Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that she had decided against tabling a Safe Sports Bill due to the lengthy legislative process and had opted to embody Safe Sport as a code instead.
When asked about what the athlete thought about Yeoh’s decision, they neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, they hoped the minister has considered the best option for everyone’s benefit.
So far from my observation, Hannah Yeoh respects everyone’s time and it is straightforward.
“So, I trust she will do the right thing in her own way to protect Malaysian athletes.
“I think it is more important for them (athletes) to be educated about the law in Malaysia first. Once they have the knowledge, only then will they learn about their rights.” – The Vibes, February 21, 2023
