KUALA LUMPUR – The sports industry has been plagued by numerous incidents of harassment over the years, leaving a devastating impact on many athletes, coaches, and staff members.
However, to prevent such unwanted incidents from reoccurring, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has urged parents to choose coaches and trainers for their children carefully.
This reminder comes as she is aware that some parties may seek to exploit the situation, particularly unqualified coaches managing training sessions for young children.
As part of Budget 2024, the government has introduced individual tax relief for parents covering fees associated with sending their children to sports training.
This initiative includes expenses related to sports, such as purchasing equipment and participating in activities with a maximum limit of RM1,000.
Meanwhile, to further encourage children to engage in sports and receive proper training, Hannah advises parents to seek the services of qualified coaches.
Misconduct in sports is not confined to the grassroots level; it also involves cases at both the state and national levels. Therefore, any coach found guilty of misconduct will have their service contract terminated immediately.
Last year, there were two separate cases of sexual harassment involving coaches at the school level, specifically a taekwondo instructor in Shah Alam and a dodgeball coach in Damansara.
“There are various scenarios, and this isn’t only happening at the national level but also at the state level. When such cases arise, we cannot turn a blind eye. We conduct preliminary investigations and cooperate with the police.
“Internally, we take action by terminating those responsible. Many cases involve coaches, and at the National Sports Institute (NSI), we conduct extensive background checks with the police to ensure that the coaches we hire are safe,” said Hannah when met at the National Women’s Sports Seminar Closing Ceremony 2024 in Subang today.
At the same time, Hannah explained that since the introduction of the Safe Sport Code, her ministry has received reports on 38 cases. For this year alone, 12 serious complaints have been received.
Her goal is to ensure that sports in Malaysia are protected from harmful influences. Overall, in the past four years, 19 cases have been resolved, with one of them taken to court.
“Since our launch in 2021, we have received reports involving 38 cases. For critical cases, we usually can’t comment as they involve the police. It’s not just an internal matter; when the police are involved, witness protection becomes a factor.
“So, I urge the media to help safeguard the victims’ identities when reporting. These athletes are valuable talents. If their identities are exposed and they feel embarrassed, they might consider leaving the sport,” she added. – October 22, 2024