50 Pct Of Athlete Safety-Related Cases Settled - Hannah

SUBANG JAYA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Fifty per cent of the 38 cases related to athlete safety received since 2021 through the Safe Sport Code under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) have been settled.

Its Minister, Hannah Yeoh, said the 19 cases were settled through collaboration with various parties.

"A total of 38 cases reached the National Sports Council (NSC)-level… Usually, after we enhance awareness, such cases will increase… not because there are more cases but because they (the athletes) are aware that such matters are wrong and can be reported.

"No need to panic if cases increase because it is the result of the awareness programme carried out,” she told reporters at the closing of the 2024 National Women in Sports Seminar here today.

Meanwhile, she said the ministry does not plan to find a replacement for Sabah, which has decided to withdraw from being one of the co-organisers of the 2027 SEA Games.

Hannah said the plan to hold the biennial Games would go on as scheduled, with Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak remaining as co-organisers.

"There are no other states (involved) as we had sent out notices before this happened. We have three (states) and that's enough… don't worry, it will not be derailed even without Sabah. Further meetings on the hosting of the SEA Games will be held as soon as possible,” she said.

Meanwhile, she said the ministry is willing to look at the kind of assistance it can provide national women's doubles professional shuttler Ng Qi Xuan, who is seeking financial aid to undergo surgery after dislocating her knee during the Malaysia Super 100 badminton tournament last week.

Qi Xuan, through an Instagram post, said she would need about RM25,000 to RM30,000 for surgery and hospital bills as her insurance doesn’t cover the costs.

"The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will provide rehabilitation assistance and I have contacted National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Faedzal (Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli) to see what else we can help her with,” she said.

-- BERNAMA