<figure id="attachment_2855362" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2855362" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2855362" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/0d2d8549-cheah-liek-hou-01-bernama-030924.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2855362" class="wp-caption-text">Cheah Liek Hou won gold in the SU5 (physical impairment) men’s singles badminton event in Tokyo 2020, and defended his title at the Paris Games last year. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: Paralympic gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou says he is ready to move past his dispute with the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (MPM) over the delayed RM60,000 cash reward.
Liek Hou, a two-time gold medallist, said reconciliation is the best way forward to restore a positive relationship with the council.
He said his main focus now is to return to full training and prepare for upcoming international tournaments, Harian Metro reported.
“Why not (make peace)? I’m open to discussions with them. If they want to talk, if MPM invites me for a dialogue, for reconciliation, I’m always ready and they are most welcome,” he told reporters after a cheque presentation ceremony in Subang Jaya, Selangor, today.
At the event, Liek Hou received RM35,000 from a Johor-based developer in recognition of his success in winning the gold medal in the SU5 (physical impairment) men’s singles event at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
He had won gold in the same event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
On Sunday, it was reported that MPM had agreed not to suspend the shuttler for criticising the council for the delay in the RM60,000 cash reward.
Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said the council will also seek further explanation from Liek Hou for saying it was as though he and other Paris Games gold medallists had been “scammed”.
Liek Hou said he has yet to be contacted by MPM for any clarification or official discussions regarding the issue.
Last week, he took to Instagram to voice his frustration that Paralympic gold medallists were still waiting for a RM60,000 cash reward promised by the council more than a year after the Paris Games.
The council’s president, Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, questioned where the RM60,000 figure came from. He said three companies had initially pledged support for the medal winners, and the council had received RM88,000 from one sponsor to be distributed to the athletes.
However, Bernama quoted him as saying in August 2024 that gold medallists in the Paris Paralympics would each get a RM60,000 cash incentive, pledged by three companies.
Yesterday, Yeoh announced that 99 Speed Mart had contributed RM35,000 each to Liek Hou as well as powerlifting para-athlete Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
Other para-athletes who finished on the podium in Paris also received contributions from the convenience store chain.

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