KUALA LUMPUR: B. Satiananthan, a respected coach in Malaysian football, has hit out at his former employers, Sarawak United FC (SUFC).
Satiananthan, who is also the Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (FCAM) president, alleged that SUFC have failed to pay his salaries.
The former national coach claimed that he is among those who have not been paid their wages owing from last year, and also from February to June this year. He said SUFC also failed to make his tax payment to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
Satiananthan, who is battling cancer, also said SUFC did not pay his insurance policy when they were required to do so under a contract.
"I terminated my contract with Sarawak by mutual consent on June 12 due to health reasons.
There's money owing to me for my work in 2021, for this year from February to June, and there was no tax payment (from the employers) to the IRB," Satiananthan said.
"When I needed treatment for my illness, I found out that no payment was made for my insurance policy. I had to spend thousands of ringgit for treatment.
"Sarawak have not responded to my claims, and this has forced me to take legal action based on my contract."
Satiananthan has urged the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to investigate the SUFC claim that they had settled the salary issue.
"MFL must conduct a thorough investigation on the Sarawak claim. I have not signed any document that say I will receive my salary arrears in stages, and which they have yet to settle."
MFL, on Sept 4, gave SUFC 14 days to settle their salary debts, and the latter, in a statement on Sept 9, claimed that they have paid up.
Responding to Satiananthan's allegation, MFL said in a statement that his situation is a "separate case" that falls under the jurisdiction of FAM.
"As for Satiananthan's claims, he resigned in June, 2022, but he has made some claims which are still in discussion with SUFC, and it's a different process and a legal dispute which needs to be settled between both parties and if not, it has to be brought to FAM's status committee to be deliberated.
"MFL does not have the jurisdiction to decide on the matter and only after the status committee makes a decision, MFL could take actions to help Satiananthan," read the MFL statement.