THE public took to social media to defend national diving queen Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg after she spoke out on “lewd jokes” levelled by coaches against their trainees and the mental torture they endure.
“Bila di ceritakan pihak atasan tak percaya bila di bangkitkan isu di kata knp baru sekarang. Kumpulkn semua bukti dan tunjuk pada mereka yg dari awal tak nak ambil tindakan dah jadi nanah baru lah baru lah nak pertikaikan.kesian mangsa trauma emosi terganggu oleh mereka yg jijik,” said user Seroja.
(When we talk, the management refuse to believe but when we go public, they question why now we’re talking about it. Even after gathering all evidence, they refuse to take action but wait until it becomes worse. I sympathise with the traumatised victims)
User Ahmad Ridhuan added: “I really cant imagine what you guys had to go through. Even worse kalau ada atlet junior yg sedang alami gangguan sama. Pandelela boleh jadi suara buat mereka.”
(What if there are junior athletes being harassed this way now? Pandelela can be their voice)
Recently, Pandelela revealed that she had been at the receiving end of having to bear with lewd jokes levelled by her coach for seven years, during her early days.
However, she decided to keep mum then as the coach was backed by the head coach and others in the management.
“But I did reprimand the coach whenever he misbehaved but I got bullied for it. Later on, the coach was convicted on rape charges,” she mentioned.
Yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu questioned Pandelela’s decision to raise allegations of sexual harassment by her former coach now as the incidents happened “long ago.”
“I am trying to understand why after a long time, Lela (Pandelela) wants to put this out in the social media,” FMT reported him as saying.
Praises welcome, criticisms silenced
However, Opposition MPs such as Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Fahmi Fadzil and Lim Lip Eng hurled brickbats Faizal for his statement, alleging the latter of trying to divert attention from the serious issue.
Pandelela herself shot back on Twitter saying: “Dulu bagitahu mereka tak percaya, sekarang bercerita mereka persoalkan”
(When we complained in the past, they refused to believe us but now when we speak out, they question us back)
Unimpressed with the Tambun MP’s statement, user Che Adz said that it was typical of politicians of not wanting to address any issues that may cause discomfort to them.
“Bila ahli politik acah tau pasal sukan,tapi sebenarnya mereka itu buta.Jangan putus asa Lela,kami sentiasa di belakang kamu.”
(When politicians say they know about sports, they are actually clueless. Don’t give up, Pandelela. We support you)
User Paksu Pencen remarked: “Budaya orang kita, hanya mahu dengar yh baik2 dan cerita pujian sahaja. Cerita buruk dan komplain disuruh senyapkan.”
(It’s our culture. They only want to hear good things and praises. Complaints and negative remarks must be silenced)
In an update, Faizal claimed that he was misquoted by the press, adding he would meet Pandelela soon to get into the bottom of the issue. – Oct 26, 2021
