PETALING JAYA: Other volleyball players should come forward and speak up if they were previously abused to avoid such incidents being swept under the carpet, says Wanita PKR.
"Wanita Keadilan also calls on any player who faced similar situations to come forward and seek help from the appropriate authorities," said the legal bureau of the women's wing in a statement on Monday (Jan 2).
"The victims must be guaranteed protection so that such an issue will not be covered up or swept under the carpet by any party," it added.
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The bureau said that an independent and comprehensive probe must be carried out by the police and relevant ministries including the responsible governing body to ensure justice for the victims while serving as a lesson for other coaches.
"It sends a clear message that the use of physical force and abuse is not normal and should not be practiced by any party, even more so against underage children who are supposed to be supported and protected," said the bureau.
It said that it viewed the incident seriously and condemned the action of the coach, saying that the act amounts to battery under Section 323 of the Penal Code which carries a one year jail or a RM2,000 fine or both upon conviction.
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The call by Wanita PKR comes after a recent video recording showing a volleyball coach slapping two of his players went viral on social media.
This incident took place at a school in Johor on Dec 16 during the Under-14 Youth Volleyball Championships B-14 2022 in the girls' category.
The third-place match involved the Melaka team taking on Johor.
In the video, which was streamed live on Facebook, a man said to be a Melaka coach is seen slapping two of his players during a break after they conceded points to their opponents.
