NATIONAL diver Pandelela Rinong wanted to encourage future athletes to speak up against sexual harassment, when she shared her experience on social media recently.

In an apparent jab at Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Pandelela said it was not her intention to seek popularity and that she was trying to create awareness of sexual misconduct in sports.

“I shared my ‘not so nice’ experience to make the public aware and support victims out there, who are always in dilemma whether to speak up or stay silent.

“Most importantly, enablers and their back-ups shouldn’t be glamourised. Others may forget, but not the victim.

“Still totally in support of #rapejokeisnotfunny, hoping to encourage the future ones to be brave when I wasn’t,” she said on Twitter.

Faizal yesterday responded to Pandelela’s tweet, where he questioned the timing of her revelation.

The minister asked why the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist raised the issue after such a long time.

“I am trying to understand why after a long time, Lela (Pandelela) wants to put this out on social media,” he was quoted as saying.

Last week, the Sarawakian born diver revealed on Twitter that her one-time coach liked to make lewd jokes, but athletes could not do anything about him because he had the backing of the head coach.

She added that she was bullied as a result of speaking up against him, further alleging the coach committed rape seven years later.

It was reported that the coach’s services had since been terminated with immediate effect, while the head coach’s contract was not extended.

In May, swimmer Cindy Ong told Malaysiakini how she had encountered sexual harassment and assault over the years, including from a national coach when she was a teenager. – October 26, 2021.