Deputy minister says Koh Lee Peng cried due to emotional stress after being labelled a beggar by irresponsible parties.
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol has revealed that former para swimmer Koh Lee Peng broke down in tears in a recently viral video due to emotional stress.
According to Mordi, the athlete disclosed that several irresponsible parties had labelled her a beggar.
“After speaking to her, she admitted that the incident (crying) had actually happened many times before. She is an ordinary person and sometimes experiences mental breakdowns.
“A lot has happened in her life and she could not share it with others, so she cried to let go of those feelings,” he told reporters after visiting Lee Peng at the athlete’s residence here today.
Mordi said following the incident, his ministry, through the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) had arranged for the athlete to receive psychiatric assistance from Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
He also presented a contribution of RM1,000 and a food basket to Lee Peng, who was recently involved in an accident while on her way to Bukit Bintang to sell tissues.
Apart from the contribution from the Youth and Sports Ministry, Mordi said Yakeb had also provided the athlete with a new wheelchair, as well as RM500 assistance for the next five months.
