NETIZENS are demanding an explanation from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) if the family of its president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria have travelled with him on his personal expenses.

This is after a photo of them leaked on the X platform, purportedly while watching the men’s double badminton bronze medal play-off between Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and world’s No.2 Danish pair of Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.

Also in attendance cheering for the Malaysian pair was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

“Why don’t dinosaurs get off their comfy chair even if they are hungry?” exposed ‘whisteblower’ Farhana Iskandar (@Hanalulu_88) sarcastically on the X platform. “Because you can take your wife and children on holiday.”

The furore stemming from the photo-evidenced revelation was so intense that a commenter wanted to know how did Norza’s wife and son managed to obtain the accreditation card to access the Games’ venue.

“Are they part of the official delegates? But earlier, Coach Nova (women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei’a coach Nova Armada) was unable to join due to limited accreditation? Care to enlighten us @olympicmas?” the commenter lashed out.

To be fair to Norza who is also the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia president, there is nothing wrong for bringing his family along for vacation so long as taxpayers’ money is not involved.

But unfortunately, judging from their responses, many netizens were doubtful if the trip is financed by personal expenses.

Overhaul, reform sad state of Malaysian sports

Earlier, as Malaysians poured out their heart-felt gratitude to Aaron-Wooi Yik for repeating their bronze medal feat at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Paris 2024 Games, few social media influencers were demanding heads to roll in view of the dismal performance of Malaysian sports in recent times, badminton included.

In particular, the spotlight fell on Norza and Chef de Mission of the Malaysian contingent to Paris 2024 Olympics Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin Hamidin whom they think should vacate their posts to make way for new blood to take over.

“Malaysian sports have never won the main world championships for decades (the last being the Thomas Cup in 1992),” Roman Akramovich (@SyedAkramin) hit out on the X platform.

“But surprisingly, Datuk and Tan Sri presidents of all sports bodies remain the same every year. Change only happens because of their retirement. All sports bodies need total reforn to come out clean.”

Another social media influencer Rangga Is Back (@alif_haidar) claimed that “so long as Norza is there, there is no hope for gold in badminton”.

“The government has spent a lot of money on the development of badminton, even the Thomas Cup is not living up to expectations. The same goes to Midin (Hamidin) in FAM (he is also FAM’s president).” - Aug 5, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/malaysians-want-to-know-if-ocm-head-honcho-uses-taxpayers-money-to-fly-wife-son-to-paris-2024-olympics/