KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Paralympic chef de mission (CDM), Datuk R. Subramaniam has rejected the claim of being bullied by the National Sports Council (NSC), labelling it as nothing more than a personal opinion.
The allegation was made by Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Seri Megat Shahriman Zaharudin, but Subramaniam quickly downplayed it, emphasising his focus on leading the contingent and ensuring the athletes' safe return.
"From my perspective as CDM, my role is clear: lead the contingent, complete the task, and bring everyone home safely. Performance is another matter," said Subramaniam upon arriving at KLIA with the national contingent on Tuesday.
Subramaniam, a former military officer, likened the situation to a battlefield: "We may have lost the battle, but we haven't lost the war.
"There will be another day to fight. The president has his own views."
He suggested that Megat's remark was likely intended to push for improvements rather than a direct attack.
"I believe he wants to enhance the system, which is why he criticised the NSC. I was focused on the athletes, coaches, and NSC to ensure everything ran smoothly at the village," said Subramaniam.
He stressed his maturity in handling such situations.
"There's a system in place, and perhaps he's trying to make it better."
Subramaniam acknowledged that improvements could always be made, while recognising the support provided by the MPC, NSC, and the National Sports Institute (NSI).
Earlier this week, Megat had pointed the finger at the NSC for Malaysia's subdued performance at the Paris Paralympics, where the national contingent secured only two gold medals, falling short of the target of four.
Megat alleged that NSC interference led to confusion in management, saying there were "two captains on one ship."