Council Backs Down On Suspension Threat Against Paralympic Gold Medallist

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However, youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh says Cheah Liek Hou has been asked to explain his use of the term 'scammed', which is said to have caused 'confusion'.
Cheah Liek Hou won gold in the SU5 (physical impairment) men’s singles badminton event in Tokyo 2020, and defended his title at the Paris Games last year. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The Paralympic Council of Malaysia (MPM) has agreed not to suspend Paralympic gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou for criticising the council over the delay in giving a RM60,000 cash reward
Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said the council will also seek further explanation from Liek Hou for saying it was as though he and other Paris Games gold medallists had been “scammed”.
In an Instagram posting today, Yeoh said the use of the term had caused “confusion”.
“In the future, all rewards (for Paralympians) will come in a written template like the Road to Gold programme’s to ensure clarity and transparency.
“We will now move forward (from this issue) so that our athletes can focus their attention on their training and competitions. The ministry will always support our athletes,” she said.
Yeoh also said other private sector companies had contacted her office offering to top up the cash rewards for the Paralympics gold medallists, and thanked them for their generosity.
Liek Hou won gold in the SU5 (physical impairment) men’s singles badminton event in Tokyo 2020, and defended his title at the Paris Games last year.
Last week, he took to Instagram to voice his frustration that gold medallists were still waiting for a RM60,000 cash reward promised by the council more than a year after the Games.
The council’s president, Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, questioned where the RM60,000 figure came from. He said three companies had initially pledged support for the medal winners, and the council has now received RM88,000 from one sponsor to be distributed to the athletes.
However, Bernama had quoted him as saying in August 2024 that gold medallists in the Paris Paralympics would each get a RM60,000 cash incentive, pledged by three companies.
On Thursday, Megat said the council was considering taking legal action and suspending Liek Hou as his social media post had damaged its image and could discourage future sponsorships.
He also said three companies had initially pledged support for medal winners, but the council had only received RM88,000 from one sponsor to be distributed to the athletes.
Liek Hou and other gold medallists ended up receiving RM25,000 each instead of RM60,000, while silver medallists received RM15,000, and bronze medallists RM8,000, with payments made on Thursday. - FMT

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