Malaysia bans star hockey player from national duty over racist Instagram comment
- Hanis Nadiah Onn was called out for her comment on Instagram that included a link to a news report about a concert by Indian composer AR Rahman
- She joked about the ‘smell’ during the concert at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium that drew an audience of 60,000, predominantly ethnic Indians
Malaysian sports authorities on Thursday imposed an indefinite ban on a top women’s hockey player, after she was found guilty of posting a racist jibe against the country’s minority Indian community on social media late last month.
The youth and sports ministry had earlier ordered a probe on Hanis Nadiah Onn, after she was called out for racism in a comment she posted on Instagram.
The comment was linked to a news report on a January 28 blockbuster concert by the celebrated Indian composer, AR Rahman, at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium that drew some 60,000 people.
The 26-year-old swiftly deleted the comment, where she joked about the “smell” at the stadium in the aftermath of the concert. The audience comprised predominantly of ethnic Indians.
She issued a public apology a day later, saying she regretted what she did and that she had always played with multiracial teammates over her 10 years representing the nation.
The ministry on Thursday said the decision was made after a February 7 meeting between the country’s top sports and hockey administrators, which included interviews with Hanis and the national women’s hockey coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim.