KUCHING, May 7: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) president Lina Soo calls upon Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to disclose the monetary reward to be given to national diving queen Pandelela Rinong for her recent gold medal success.
She said members of the public as taxpayers have the right to know whether the compensation is commensurate with Pandelela’s achievement and also with Abdul Karim’s output as a minister.
On another note where Abdul Karim said yesterday (May 6) that Datukship is not the only way to award Pandelela when she should be allowed to enjoy her sports career first, Soo viewed this as a heartless remark.
“It seems Datuk Abdul Karim has his own way of rewarding our athletes and sports champions, and that is to brush away all accolades and requests from members of the public to recognise Pandelela’s achievement, on the flimsy premise too much reward will spoil her and deny her enjoyment of her sport,” she said in a statement today.
She asserted that any athlete takes years of dedication, hard work, pain and tears to reach the top in the international arena in becoming a champion, thus her sacrifices should not be brushed aside.
“The achievements of world class athletes can only come with blood, sweat and tears.
“Unlike Malaysian politicians who can be made overnight and be rewarded with fat salaries, GLC (government-linked company) positions and ministerial positions instantly,” she added. — DayakDaily
