Hannah slams War Zone championship organisers for using child in apology

The War Zone championship, scheduled to take place on Dec 6 and 7, drew public attention after several video clips of altercations between Malaysian and Indonesian fighters went viral.

PETALING JAYA: Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh has criticised the organisers of the War Zone championship combat sports tournament for getting a child to issue a public apology following the controversy surrounding the competition.

Commenting on the child’s Instagram post, Yeoh said the organisers must take full responsibility for the unsanctioned event.

“Please do not use children to make such explanations. The ministry does not need this child to apologise. The child is innocent. The organisers must take responsibility,” she said.

Earlier, a video was uploaded to the Instagram account @alfateh_semboyanwarrior showing the child apologising for kicking an Indonesian competitor during a press conference on the competition.

“To YB Hannah and deputy minister (Adam Adli), please do not cancel my match. I am pleading to be allowed to compete in the competition.

“To the people of Malaysia and Indonesia, I ask for your support. I also apologise. From now on, I will remain calm and will not act that way again,” the child said in the video.

Last Sunday, the youth and sports ministry said the competition, scheduled for December, had not been sanctioned by the ministry.

The ministry’s statement added that any sports event, especially those involving international participation, must obtain approval from the sports commissioner.

The War Zone championship scheduled to take place on Dec 6 and 7, drew public attention after several video clips of altercations between Malaysian and Indonesian fighters went viral, believed to be part of the event’s promotional strategy.

However, the move sparked criticism from the local combat sports community, who questioned the professionalism and safety of the event’s organisation as it included the involvement of children.