KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council (NSC) spent €15,000 (RM70,270) to provide meals for Malaysia’s para-athletes at the Paris Paralympics, sourced from Nur Malaysia, with the full knowledge of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), said PCM vice president Muhd Iqbal Sulaiman.
Iqbal’s comments follow outrage expressed by PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin, who was upset upon discovering that the athletes had unknowingly been served meals from a restaurant linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), a company accused of abuse, exploitation, deviant practices, and ties to the banned Al-Arqam movement.
Speaking to Scoop, Iqbal said it was unnecessary for Megat to be frustrated with the NSC, stressing that PCM had been informed in advance that the athletes would be served by Nur Malaysia.
The €15,000 was spent on meals for both athletes and the delegation over 12 days during the Paris Paralympics, which took place from August 28 to September 8.
“I was in Paris with the contingent and delegation, and it doesn’t make sense for the president to be angry with NSC when all decisions were made collectively. Of course, not all athletes wanted to eat the food provided by the Paralympic Games Village, and some preferred Malaysian food.
“At the time, Nur Malaysia was one of only two caterers available in Paris (the other being a Halal Chinese restaurant), and we sought NSC’s help. They assisted in arranging the food and paid €15,000 for the meals during the Paralympics.
“Nur Malaysia was also suggested by the Malaysian embassy in Paris, so there were no concerns about the catered food. The GISBH issue only surfaced after the Paralympics. The government was not aware of the restaurant’s connections to the scandalous group.
“So I don’t understand why Megat is turning this into an issue and blaming Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and the NSC, portraying them negatively.
“These slanders must stop, as they damage the reputation of those of us in the governing body,” said Iqbal, who is also the president of Wheelchair Tennis Malaysia.
Last month, a multi-agency operation called Op Global raided over 20 welfare homes linked to GISBH, rescuing more than 600 children, some suspected to have been exploited and sexually abused.
More than 400 people linked to the group have been arrested, and a total of 58 detainees are being held under the contentious Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Authorities have identified 23 properties worth RM52.4 million belonging to GISBH in 10 countries. — October 24, 2024