KUALA LUMPUR: The Bee Gees song 'I started a Joke' comes to mind when one dwells on national hockey player Hanis Nadiah Onn's racist remarks on social media which eventually landed her in trouble.
Hanis, 27, made a statement on her socmed account which implied that Indian music maestro AR Rahman's concert at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil "must be smelly".
For that, she has been barred from international tournaments by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) until they re-evaluate her behaviour.
However, MHC are allowing Hanis to represent Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
"The National Sports Council and Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) had a meeting (Feb 7) and found that Hanis' statement on her socmed had violated the MHC etiquette code and spoiled the image of MHC and the national team.
"She was found guilty of insulting, condemning or cursing another party which could cause a misunderstanding, annoyance or anger of another party.
"She has been suspended from all international tournaments starting with the Cambodia Sea Games, and MHC and NSC will reevaluate her progress from time to time," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal today.
He said that not playing in the Sea Games will be a big blow for Hanis as there are many perks associated with it.
"Playing in the Sea Games has many benefits including upgrade in her job, allowances and other benefits from the NSC.
"She will miss all that, and we hope it will be a lesson for her and other hockey players to be wary of what they post on their socmed accounts," said Subahan.
Hanis, who later deleted her statement and apologised, said she is not a racist as she grew up in a multiracial area in Kluang, Johor, and has many Indian friends among national athletes.
Hanis started a "joke"... "But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no," sang the Bee Gees.