Kuala lumpur: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed her disappointment over the action taken by the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) in issuing a show-cause letter to national para-badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou. In a post on her Facebook account, Hannah stated that Liek Hou did not violate any disciplinary code and that his actions were simply to claim what was promised to him one year after winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hannah emphasized that this issue was not a disciplinary matter but stemmed from MPC's own delay. She highlighted that Liek Hou is under the care of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is fully funded by the National Sports Council (NSC), asserting that any decision regarding his status is not solely in the hands of the MPC. The minister argued that the MPC does not have the right to act unilaterally in this matter.

The minister's comments were in response to the MPC's decision to take legal action against the athlete after he publicly criticized the organization on social media for not fulfilling its promise of a Paris 2024 Paralympic Games reward. Hannah described Liek Hou as a committed athlete who consistently brings pride to the country through his achievements on the world stage. She noted that sponsors support and celebrate the success of athletes, not just the MPC.

In a previous press conference, MPC President Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin stated that legal action would be pursued against the para-badminton player, and the MPC was also considering suspending the player from participating in any related sporting events. Media reports indicate that last year, Megat D. Shahriman announced a cash reward of RM60,000 for each athlete who won a gold medal at the prestigious event. This reward was intended as an incentive provided by three external companies to motivate national athletes to aim for gold in Paris 2024.