Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar ticked off controversial preacher Ridhuan Tee Abdullah today for suggesting that certain national athletes competed in the Rio Olympics for fame and fortune, rather than patriotism.

Khairy said all of Malaysia’s national athletes have strived for their country, and to suggest otherwise was grossly inaccurate and insulting.

“I consider his comments to be very, very inaccurate and I feel angry and disappointed when I read his statement.

“I know our athletes. Perhaps Ridhuan Tee has never met our athletes, but I know our atheletes and regardless of their race or their background, they all strive for our country.

“To suggest otherwise is something I consider to be very, very insulting and irresponsible. It is better if he does not comment on sports, because he obviously knows nothing about it,” Khairy told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

In his column in Sinar Harian on Monday, Ridhuan said ‘ultra kiasu’ athletes are more involved in individual sports, rather than those who require team work.

He reasoned that this was because individual events draw more attention, and more money, compared with team events.

‘Ultra kiasu’ is the term that Ridhuan normally uses to describe ethnic Chinese persons.

For these athletes, he said, patriotism is merely a lip service and not something kept close to heart.

His comments came after the conclusion of the 2016 Rio summer Olympics on Aug 21. The Malaysian contingent delivered its best-ever Olympic performance in the event – garnering four silver medals and one bronze medal.

The silver medallists are Lee Chong Wei (badminton; men’s singles), Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying (badminton; mixed doubles), Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong (diving; women’s synchronised 10-metre platform), and Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem (badminton; men’s doubles).

Azizulhasni Awang, dubbed the ‘Pocket Rocket’, garnered Malaysia’s sole bronze medal in the men’s keirin cycling event.