KUALA LUMPUR – If we wish to completely eradicate match-fixing from the scene, everyone needs to be responsible and play their part. Only then will this pervasive “cancer”, which threatens the integrity of sport, be eliminated once and for all.
In a recent interview, former Indonesian badminton ace Taufik Hidayat revealed that he was approached by a Malaysian official, who wanted the shuttler to throw his semi-final match against Datuk Lee Chong Wei at the 2006 Doha Asian Games in return for a 400-million-rupiah (RM116,000) bribe.
After clarifying the incident with Taufik, Chong Wei, who was shocked at the revelation, went on to confirm that he now knows the identity of the alleged culprit but declined to reveal the name of the person, citing that it happened 15 years ago.
However, former sports minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican told The Vibes that match-fixing in sports should not be tolerated, regardless of whether it happened 15 or five years, or even five days ago.
“I strongly condemn such unsportsman-like behaviour to the highest degree as it is shameful to the sport and the nation.
“I hope the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will take immediate steps moving forward, and very stringent action should also be taken to weed out this cancer, once and for all,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source in the sports fraternity said Chong Wei should expose this culprit and help eradicate match-fixing for the good of the sport.
“There is no harm in exposing this person. An offence has been made and now, Chong Wei knows who it is. He should inform BAM and not just keep quiet.
“This alleged culprit could still be active (in badminton), and despite BWF’s efforts to eradicate match-fixing, having such people in the fraternity is a cancer to the sport.
The source added that most people, especially in Southeast Asia, take match-fixing lightly, and it is wrong for them to believe that they should not be the ones to rock the boat.
“As an athlete, they have an obligation and responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the sport, which means any wrongdoing (by an individual) should be reported to the authorities,” the source said.
But in this case, the source said that it is up to BAM to investigate before the Badminton World Federation (BWF) steps in.
“It was revealed that Taufik Hidayat was approached by an official from Malaysia, so it is under BAM’s jurisdiction, and they have to make the first move. Players and officials belong to the local body, not BWF,” the source added
Although the Vibes contacted BWF for clarification, its secretary, Thomas Lund, said BWF does not respond to questions concerning matters of integrity related to any individual or member association, except when the body makes an announcement on the outcome of hearings conducted by its independent hearing panel.
“But the BWF does have a very robust Integrity Unit set up, which runs dedicated anti-match fixing and anti-match manipulation programmes, as well as anti-doping programmes,” he said.
It is understood that the Integrity Unit can launch an investigation at any time at its own discretion, adding that the unit does not announce, comment on, or confirm any of its investigative activities. The only time a comment is made public is after a player or a person has been found negligent following a hearing.
The BWF has a range of powers to investigate allegations of doping, match-fixing and other forms of corrupt behaviour.
The Integrity Unit may enlist external organisations and individuals, including the police, customs officials, and anti-corruption agencies in other countries, to assist in investigations where the BWF does not have jurisdiction. – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
