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KUALA LUMPUR – A video of an Indonesian badminton coach purportedly referring to Malaysian pair Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan as “black and white” has garnered backlash as netizens demand a public apology.
The coach was heard using those phrases when giving instructions to his shuttlers during a match break, which was also aired on television.
At the ongoing French Open, Pearly-Thinaah today advanced to the quarterfinals after taking down Indonesian pair Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi 21-16, 21-14.
Had to post this since I guess everyone wonder what is hitam putih right? For Malaysian, colors are very sensitive yaaaa tetangga. We demand apologies from coach? Naahhh benda tu x payah mintak, if they willing dorang boleh je buat without us asking. #FrenchOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/cf4Mc7SvyT
— Official Shah (@shahaidin) October 28, 2022
“For Malaysians, colours are very sensitive. We should not have to ask for an apology, if they are willing, they would do it without us having to ask,” said a Twitter user known as @shahaidin who posted a snippet of the video.
This coach has simply objectify their skin colour to recognize them. This is misbehaved. Colours are sensitive and you are uncivilised!
— Sam Yong (@SamFrazad) October 28, 2022
“This coach has simply objectified their skin colour to recognise them. This is misbehaved (sic). Colours are sensitive and you are uncivilised!” said Twitter user @SamFrazad in the comments.
However, some defended the Indonesian coach, saying that his intentions were not racial, but merely to help his players differentiate between Pearly and Thinaah.
Saya rasa coach tdk bermaksud untuk rasis, itu mungkin mempermudah dalam berkomunikasi. Itu pun tidak diucapkan secara public (hanya internal) dan tidak akan diucapkan jika bukan dalam kondisi tersebut.
— Ri_ (@Ri57575162) October 28, 2022
Apapun itu, memang sebaiknya tidak dilakukan.
“I don’t think the coach meant to be racist, but it was meant to make communication easier. This was also not spoken publicly but internally between the coach and players. It would not have been said if it was not spoken in these conditions.
“Nevertheless, it should not have been said,” said user @Ri57575162.
I understand why Malaysian are so angry. And we are sorry about that. However, i also need to inform you guys that coahc's intention is not "that". his intention is just to make the player can identify the opponent easily or doing strategy.
— Mubadminton (@mubadminton) October 28, 2022
“I understand why Malaysians are so angry, and we are sorry about that. However, I also need to inform you guys (Malaysians) that the coach’s intention is not ‘that’ (racist).
“His intention is just to make the player identify the opponent easily,” said user @mubadminton.
So far, there has been no response from the Indonesian coach about his comments. – The Vibes, October 28, 2022
