He said prior to Khairy’s explanation on the matter yesterday, National Sports Institute (NSI) chairman Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi had claimed that Yang’s coaching techniques were “old school” and he had failed to embrace sports science technology.
However, in his statement yesterday Khairy had said that the contract was not extended due to the existence of a culture and environment of fear among some national diving athletes under Zhuliang.
“So now, which statement is true?” said Wong, who is Canning assemblyman in Perak, in an open letter to Khairy today.
He said Zhuliang was either being made the scapegoat for the alleged “culture and environment of fear”, or this reason was just manipulated to justify NSI’s removal of Zhuliang and to cover up the real motive known only to few.
“Zhuliang’s contribution to the nation in taking our national diving team to great heights is something that needs no further elaboration,” Wong said.
“It is inevitable that some quarters may want to take credit or the limelight for this sport.
“It is our duty to ensure meritocracy is placed above all personal interests and individual preferences,” he added.
Khairy had claimed yesterday that Zhuliang allowed the culture and environment of fear to spread to the point of inviting rape, sexual harassment, violence, beatings, bullying and threats to athletes, even though the Chinese-born coach was not involved in the matter.
He said the training environment and atmosphere of the national squad became more complicated after a trainer, who was close to Zhuliang, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Oct 11 with raping a national athlete.
The media earlier reported that Zhuliang’s contract, which would end on Dec 31, was not renewed by the NSI as he failed to follow the sports science approach, and due to tensions between him and an NSI officer.
Zhuliang, 53, was reported by The Star today as saying that he was shocked by Khairy’s claims, calling them unfair as not everything was under his control although he was head coach.
“I seldom mix with the divers after training. And I don’t pay any attention to their personal lives,” he was quoted as saying.
“How could I possibly be in control of everything? I’m really shocked and surprised that the minister has come out with such a statement,” he added.
On former national coach Huang Qiang being charged with raping a national diver in October, Zhuliang was quoted as saying: “I was surprised. I didn’t know about it (until he was charged).”
Zhuliang, who joined the national team in 2001, guided Malaysian diver Bryan Nickson Lomas to win the 10m platform title at the 2004 World Junior Championship in Brazil and helped the national squad to become the overall champions at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, before accepting a job offer in Australia.
He returned to coach the Malaysian team in 2008, bringing success, including helping Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong reap the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the women’s synchronised 10m platform event, and helping Jun Hoong win the gold medal at the 2017 World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary in July.
Khairy: Zhuliang allowed fear culture to exist among diving athletes