‘Share the evidence’
APPROPRIATE: Khairy hopes Tunku Ismail will release pen drive content to relevant authorities
SPORTS Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has urged Darul Ta’zim owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim not to withhold evidence of alleged corruption in the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Having accused FAM of corrupt practices and bribery on Monday, the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page issued a statement on Tuesday saying Tunku Ismail wants “to avoid persecuting certain individuals and (will) withhold some of the information first as it includes names that can have huge implications on those individuals.”
However, Khairy said any evidence of wrongdoing must be forwarded to the relevant authorities, such as the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission, for investigation.
“If there are allegations over corruption and bribery, it needs to be forwarded to the appropriate authorities. If there is evidence of a crime, that evidence cannot be concealed. It MANY have gone to the United States to pursue their studies and swimming careers but unfortunately, most faded upon returning to Malaysia.
There are fears Phee Jinq En could suffer a similar fate as the swimmer will head to the US after the Rio Olympics for higher studies at Purdue University in Indiana.
Jinq En, who will compete in the women’s 100m breaststroke in her maiden Olympic outing next month, however, believes her decision to head to the US will only make her swim faster.
The US college swimming scene is competitive and Malaysia will definitely benefit if the 19-year-old continues to don national colours.
Christina Loh and Lim Ching Hwang are among those who are currently training and studying in the US but both have so far failed must be handed over,” said Khairy after the launch of the Perdana Fellows Programme Structured Bootcamp in Putrajaya yesterday.
“Let the authorities investigate. I don’t want to make assumptions. If there is concrete information from anyone, they should hand it over to the authorities.”
Tunku Ismail renewed his criticism of FAM last week with four senior international Darul Ta’zim players also announcing their intention not to play for the national team again.
The Johor crown prince alleged that national coach Ong Kim Swee’s training methods resulted in injuries to national players with Khairy hoping now to mediate between Tunku Ismail and FAM president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
“I spoke with TMJ (Tunku Ismail) last week (and) now I am waiting to have an audience with the FAM president,” said Khairy.
“After that, I will figure out a way to solve the current situation which has gone on for a while.” to make huge strides.
Both have also had problems with their respective universities in getting releases for assignments.
The next assignment after the Olympics will be next year’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games and Jinq En is committed towards preparing and competing in it if nothing stands in the way.
If her personal best times are of any indication, Jinq En will be her university's top woman breaststroke swimmer. She is the national record holder for the 50m (31.66) and 100m (1:08.65) breaststroke disciplines.
“I still have the desire to represent the country. I want to retain my 100m breaststroke gold medal and aim for the 50m event as well now that it has been included in the Sea Games programme,” said Jinq En, who
Khairy also commented on a video which appears to show national youth coach Frank Bernhardt appearing to strike a Japanese official with his elbow during the national Under-23 team’s tour of Japan last month.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on June 22 when the national youth team lost 1-0 to Shonan Bellmare. Bernhardt is seen arguing with a match official before appearing to strike another official who had tried to defuse the situation.
“I have asked FAM to give an explanation on what has happened with Frank Bernhardt. Let me get a proper report first before commenting,” said Khairy.
FAM general secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin said their legal division will scrutinise the video recording and seek an explanation from German Bernhardt.
“Our coordinator has prepared a report on the video recording and will hand it over to the legal division for further action. We also need to hear Bernhardt’s explanation,” Hamidin told Bernama yesterday.
“He is now on holiday and would probably return to Malaysia next week. FAM have not received any complaint from the Japan Football Association.”
is to pursue her studies at Purdue University in Indiana. left for Florida on Tuesday together with Welson Sim to prepare for the Olympics, yesterday.
“I definitely have to continue swimming competitively as I am on a full athletic scholarship. It’s going to be a whole new experience for me. The standards in the US are high.
“World No 1 woman breaststroker Lilly King is from Indiana University, so I will be racing against her often in the domestic meets.”
Apart from the Sea Games next year, Jinq En also has the Jakarta Asian Games and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 in her sights.
“I have yet to compete in both Games, so that’s something I hope to achieve in two years time,” Jinq En added. By Ajitpal Singh