Shabery: Sports Commissioner Office to probe Sieh

The Youth and Sports Ministry will leave it to the Sports Commissioner Office to investigate an allegation of misuse of funds by Olympic Council Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the Sports Commissioner Office has the expertise to conduct an investigation from the management perspective. "Any complaint related to sports management can be lodged directly to the Sports Commissioner Office," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Youth Golf Academy and University of Malaya on Monday.

He was asked to comment on reports that Sieh had been called up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a complaint that he had received sponsorship, which contravened the rules, for the contingent to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Sieh, when contacted denied the allegation and described it as a form of harassment and intimidation against him.

"Why pick on me? I never touched a single sen. I'm worth more than a million ringgit. OCM is my pride," he said, adding that he had never abused his authority.

The former Drainage and Irrigation Department engineer said he had given a statement to the MACC late last year over a complaint over the track suit sponsorship for the national contingent for the Guangzhou Asian Games and for taking along his daughter to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

"I paid for my daughter's expenses abroad. She is a special child that I have to take care of.

"Anyway, as guests of the organising committee, OCM president, including me, are allowed to take along our wives or a guest at the expense of the organiser,” he added.

Sieh, 74, said he had given all relevant documents including audited accounts and receipts of the airline tickets purchased to the MACC and he had not been contacted since.