PETALING JAYA: National hockey player Hanis Nadiah Onn has been indefinitely suspended from the national team after making a racist remark regarding a recent AR Rahman concert.
The youth and sports ministry said Hanis will not be part of the national team when it goes for the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia.
The ministry added that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will review Hanis’ suspension if she showed a positive change in behaviour.
Hanis had reportedly posted an Instagram comment on the concert last month, implying that it would have been smelly.
The ministry said an investigative committee helmed by the National Sports Council (MSN) and MHC had summoned Hanis on Feb 7 and she had admitted to posting the comment.
“Hanis said she had no racist intentions when posting the comment, which she described as a ‘joke’ and reference to the stadium being filled with tens of thousands of spectators.
“She only realised that there were racist elements after it sparked outrage among netizens,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said the committee concluded that Hanis had uploaded a racist comment as it was directed at a concert mostly attended by Indians.
“The committee found Hanis guilty of publicly making insulting or offensive statements or comments on her social media account.
“Hanis was also found guilty of making comments that could be misconstrued or cause a misunderstanding or anger towards others.”
The ministry added that Hanis’ actions had violated MHC’s code of ethics and tarnished the image of the national hockey team and the confederation.
Hanis has since deleted the comment and made a public apology on her Instagram.
