Distasteful tweets

By ADRIAN LAI, AISYAH SULAIMAN AND G. SURACH | news@nst.com.my

POLICE REPORTS: DAP rep’s remarks about Lee Chong Wei infuriate many

KUALA LUMPUR: AT a time when Malaysians were united in their outpouring of love and support for Datuk Lee Chong Wei for his performance at the London Olympics, a politician chose to do otherwise.

Worse still, DAP’s Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan chose to politicise the matter, drawing a backlash from all quarters, including his own party members. When Chong Wei lost his hard-fought battle with China’s ace, Lin Dan, Malaysians from around the world tweeted encouraging words for the national No. 1, especially after he had apologised to the nation for having to settle for silver.

Manoharan was one of the few who took Chong Wei to task.

“Lin Dan wins. He played better than Lee Chong AWAY,” he tweeted a few minutes after the match.

Another tweet went: “If Chong Wei played better than Lin Dan, why didn’t he win? We must be firm with our players so that we can see a gold (medal) one day.”

What raised the ire of many, however, was that Manoharan tweeted that Malaysia would win a gold medal only if Pakatan Rakyat took over the country.

“Pakatan has a very capable sports minister in waiting. Give Pakatan to rule Putrajaya to bring in the Gold in next Olympics in Rio 2016,” he tweeted.

Such was the ire that 15 members of Selangor MIC Youth and sports clubs lodged police reports against Manoharan for his disparaging tweets.

The group, led by Selangor MIC Nambikai Cyberteam coordinator G. Kalaicelvan, lodged the report at the Klang Selatan police headquarters yesterday. He said the tweets were uncalled for and unbecoming of a politician.

"We feel that Manoharan has simply shot his mouth off unnecessarily over national sports, which should not be politicised at all.

"Whether we like it or not, Lee is representing the country and has worked hard to try and get the gold medal for our nation.

"Political parties may be divided but should stay united to cheer him up, instead of coming up with politically charged remarks."

He said Manoharan should issue a public apology to Lee for publishing the statement.

"Would DAP condone such statements against national sportsmen in the matter in which Manoharan said it? I hope that they take action against Manoharan."

DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke also expressed disappointment over Manoharan's remarks, calling them "distasteful and uncalled for". "Lee gave his best shot and even though he lost, there is every reason for all of us to be proud of him."

He said Manoharan's comments did not reflect the stand of the party or the opposition coalition.

Distasteful tweets

POLICE REPORTS: DAP rep’s remarks about Lee Chong Wei infuriate many

Leave Your Comment

Most Read

Most Commented