Sarawak activist slams Youth and Sports Minister for questioning Pandelela

KUCHING: A Sarawak social activist slammed Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu for questioning national diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong's reasons for bringing up her past sexual harassment experiences.

Peter John Jaban, who is also the founder of Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) organisation described the minister's statements against the two-time Olympic medallist as disgraceful.

SAS, he said, urged the minister to resign as the latter seemed to be unfit to take care of the next generation young athletes as well.

"We would also like to call for an immediate overhaul of the system that forced Pandelela and presumably many athletes into such a position and situation," he said in a statement today.

"The minister's archaic attitude to the issue is victim-shaming at its worst. It is no wonder that Pandelela chose to stay silent all these years – until she reached her current level," Peter said.

Pandelela had recently revealed that she got bullied by a former coach after she confronted him over his lewd jokes, before the individual went on to rape a national divers some years back. However, she did not mention any names.

Although the Youth and Sports Minister urged national athletes to speak up over any form of sexual harassment, he said he was also trying understand why Pandelela wanted to raise the issue, which happened a long time ago.

Ahmad Faizal said he has been in touch with several people regarding the incidents, and will be meeting then youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin to discuss the incidents further.

Peter said coaches and the ministry were responsible to protect and care for young athletes as many of them were sent away from home to attend training.

"It is sad that such a toxic culture prevails in our sports and society when a male coach is allowed to continue making lewd jokes, to the point that he is so emboldened by the lack of action that he proceeds to rape a young girl supposedly in his care," he said.

"This is not the first case of its kind in Malaysia as we have seen examples of schoolgirls attacked by the education system for raising similar issues. Victim-blaming is totally unacceptable," he said.

Peter said the minister should be thankful that the national diver has decided to speak up and raise the issue where due attention should be given.

He said Ahmad Faizal should also apologise personally to Pandelela for making such remarks against the Sarawakian diver, who has been bringing glory to the country with her great achievements.