KUALA LUMPUR: New Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said she would use her experience in enacting the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act to ensure the safety of athletes.
As reported by FMT, Hannah said she had received comments about the Safe Sport Act from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
"Based on the meeting with the ministry, I will make sure this issue becomes the ministry's priority," she said at a press conference.
Yeoh, 43, said her age would not stop her from carrying out her duties.
"I am aware of the youths' aspiration as I have experienced dealing with them and most of my work in the field are with the youths.
"I believe this can help me forging a strong bond with the public servants and the ones who put their hope in us (in the ministry).
"If we listen to what the athletes want and set aside our ego and personal agenda, I'm sure we can develop our country," she said.
Former youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu was quoted saying the draft of the Safe Sport Act would be ready by the end of this year to address complaints regarding sexual harassment in the sports industry.
He said that aside from making sure of athletes' participation in sports and upholding their welfare, his main priority would be to create a safe environment for players.
Faizal added that he would focus on empowering the existing programmes from the ministry to ensure athletes' progression.