Yeoh hopeful athlete's row with Paralympic Council settled today

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh is optimistic that ongoing tribulations between two-time Paralympic gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou and the Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) will be resolved today.

Noting that she has a programme scheduled with the PCM later today, Yeoh (above) reportedly said that she hopes the matter can be put to rest as soon as possible.

“The public sees (Cheah) as an athlete who has brought glory to the nation and should not be treated this way. He was only demanding what was promised to him before he departed (for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games),” Malaysia Gazette quoted the minister as saying.

Speaking at a press conference after a convocation ceremony for the Youth and Sports Skills Training Institute in Bangi, Yeoh highlighted that without athletes, the existence of sports bodies such as the PCM, the National Sports Council, or even her ministry holds no meaning.

She stressed that the matter involving Cheah’s grievances is not a disciplinary issue and should not result in his suspension as the para-athlete had not committed a crime, misconduct, or skipped training.

Yeoh also suggested that improvements be implemented by emulating practices under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, which ensures that all rewards offered to athletes are supported by contracts prior to their departure for competitions.

“If there is a promise, fulfil it. If it cannot be fulfilled, state the reasons and find a way to improve. There’s no need to go as far as threatening to suspend an athlete,” the minister said.

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the controversy surrounding Cheah and the PCM stems from a governance issue, as shortcomings in delivering information and implementing policies can lead to misunderstandings and disappointment, especially among beneficiaries.

Deceitful

It was previously reported that Cheah had accused the PCM of being deceitful for failing to pay him the promised RM60,000 cash incentive after winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

In response to Cheah’s claims, however, PCM president Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said the council is considering legal action against the national badminton player.

Warning that Cheah faces a lifetime suspension from competitions authorised by the council if he is found guilty by its disciplinary committee, Megat asserted that no such amount had been promised to Cheah.

He also accused the athlete of damaging the council’s credibility and hindering future sponsorships.

Yeoh had later berated the PCM for overstepping in the case, insisting that the matter is “not a disciplinary issue but is due to the PCM’s own delay.”

She added that the council does not have the authority to “act on its own” as Cheah is under the care of the Badminton Association of Malaysia while being fully funded by the National Sports Council.

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