Shahril, KJ fire back at Yeoh over podcast sponsor 'harassment'

Former Umno leaders Shahril Hamdan and Khairy Jamaluddin have hit back at Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh over her criticisms against Keluar Sekejap’s sponsor.

While Shahril told Yeoh to address his comments instead of dragging in a third party - in this case, healthcare retail chain Gintell Malaysia - Khairy urged the minister to not harass the podcast sponsor.

Shahril shared an Instagram story Yeoh posted directed at Gintell, saying it was distasteful of the company to sponsor Shahril and Khairy’s podcast following comments made by the pair on the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

“Hello @hannahyeoh. If you really have a problem with the relatively mild comments made about you on a podcast (you should see what others say elsewhere), maybe respond substantively to those comments and address them to the people who said it?

“Unlike some, we take ownership of what we say and don’t ‘taichi’ or drag in other parties,” he said in another repost of Yeoh’s story.

Khairy, a former youth and sports minister, subsequently reshared Shahril’s post, stating that while they had previously called out Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regularly, the latter had not responded in such a way.

“Like SH (Shahril) said, the points we made were mild. If you have a problem with it, respond to the argument. No need for a minister to drag sponsors in.

“Don’t be so petty and thin-skinned,” he said.

‘Armchair critics’

Yeoh said in her story that Gintell’s massage chairs have become the perfect platform for armchair critics and requested a response from the company.

“Hey @gintellmalaysia I find it distasteful of you to sponsor a podcast implying the Minister should proactively interfere with @olympicmas and putting photos of Tan Sri Norza and Tunku Imran and labelling Tunku as “big beast”.

“Also using the Olympic rings but promoting a message that is completely out of line with the Olympic charter.

“Your massage chair is now seen as the perfect platform for armchair critics (no pun intended). Would love to hear from you @gintellmalaysia,” she posted.

Yeoh had previously detailed the types of appointments within the country’s sports landscape while clarifying that she was not in the position to sack those who she didn’t appoint.

“While some positions, such as those in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), are elected by their members, others are appointed directly by the minister.

“Those elected by others, I do not have power to remove.

“That is done through a democratic process, and we must respect that. I can only remove those I appoint,” she explained.

She was commenting on the controversy surrounding OCM president Norza Zakaria after his family was spotted watching the Paris Olympics with their accreditation cards circulated on social media.

Khairy later said Yeoh must be a proactive leader and not act like a “taichi minister”.

‘Good governance’

In other Instagram stories, Yeoh referred to the Olympic Charter and OCM constitution, saying that her actions were due to the separation of powers and respect for institutional boundaries.

“I stand by my conviction and will defend what I believe is right. Doing so is not ‘tai chi’.

“It is called good governance,” she said.

The fifth principle of the Olympic Charter states that sports organisations within the Olympic movement are politically neutral and have their own autonomy.

Article 5.10 of the OCM constitution states that the organisation must preserve its independence and autonomy to be free of all political pressures which may prevent it from complying with the Olympic Charter.

Yeoh also said that a breach of the Olympic Charter could cause the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to withdraw funding to the National Olympic Committee.

National athletes could also be banned from competing at IOC-sanctioned games, which include not only the Olympics but also the Asian Games and SEA Games.

“Don’t mistake my silence for weakness. Apologies I just do not have time to sit on massage chairs and do podcasts.

“Lots to do to improve sports and empower youth. Back to work,” Yeoh said.

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