KUCHING: Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has questioned the efforts of Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) in nurturing the next generation of divers and swimmers.
He came to the defence of national diving queen Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg, who faced criticism from MAS secretary-general Andy Low for not qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Expressing disappointment, Abdul Karim criticised Low’s remarks, stating, “Talking about individuals who have contributed to the country and making sarcastic remarks such as saying they (athletes) only linger on for their salary is distasteful. I also don’t really know this Andy Low. Who is he? What has he done and contributed towards developing one of the most crucial sports in Malaysia?”
He addressed the issue during a press conference here on Wednesday (Feb 14).
Abdul Karim raised concerns about MAS’ efforts in developing successors and pointed out that relying solely on Pandelela for the sport over the past decade indicates a lack of progress.
He challenged MAS, asking, “What have you been doing for the last 10 years? How many years have you been the secretary? For now, you’re criticising athletes who contributed to the country.”
He called for a reformation in national sports, highlighting the absence of women divers in the last Malaysia Games (Sukma) in 2022.
He questioned MAS, stating, “How do you expect athletes to be produced when even in national sports, there are no women divers? What went wrong?”
Regarding Pandelela’s potential retirement, Abdul Karim expressed that it is her decision to continue her career as Malaysia’s diving athlete.
“If she is still enthusiastic about the sport, whether it is the Olympics or not, we cannot stop her.”
Responding to Low’s comment that Pandelela only “makan gaji” (draws a salary), Abdul Karim defended the athlete, suggesting that with her achievements, she could potentially earn more as a coach.
“There’s no need for officers like Low to belittle the athletes, especially from Sarawak.”
Pandelela, a two-time Olympic medallist, addressed the criticism in a social media post, expressing her commitment to progress in her career despite facing challenges at the Doha championships.
