Friday, 13 August 2010

OCM To Seek Clarification From India On Allegation Of Discrimination

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will seek clarification from the New Delhi Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) on the alleged discrimination and racial bias against a former sports editor from Malaysia.

OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said despite their good relationship with the Indian Olympic Committee, the OC still needed to clear the air on allegations made by former Malay Mail sports editor, Tony Mariadass.

Sieh said he had sent a complaint letter over the allegations to the OC previously.

"...but they did not reply to my letter...and when Tony's predicament was revealed by the Hindustan Times yesterday, I was shocked that Malaysians working with the OC allegedly received bad treatment.

"I felt sorry for them," he told Bernama when asked to comment on a Bernama report from New Delhi Wednesday.

India will host the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from Oct 3 to 14.

In an article, 'Now, Racism Charges Hits Games OC' carried by the Hindustan Times, it quoted Mariadass as saying that Malaysians received unpalatable treatment from the Indian officials.

He had said that unlike officials hired from Australia, England and New Zealand who were treated well, he was subjected to impoverished treatment.

Five Malaysians were employed by the OC in various capacities -- media officers to venue managers-- but Mariadass quit the job last month.

Sieh said that earlier, the OC had requested OCM for experts to fill up several posts in the organising committee. Officials from New Delhi came to conduct interviews here.

"But OCM did not know the agreement between both parties...and not in my wildest dream that after working with the OC for a few months, they would face so many problems," he said.

Sieh said he would again write to the Indian sports authorities seeking explanation on Mariadass' allegations.

-- BERNAMA

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