BY: AFEEQA AFEERA
SHAH ALAM, AUG 18: The frontpage article on Kosmo today entitled “Peng Soon-Liu Ying hampakan jutaan rakyat Malaysia” (Peng Soon-Liu Ying disappoint millions of Malaysians) has provoked negative reactions among social media users.
Many criticised the local newspaper in their online posts, with some adding the hastag #KosmoPerluMintaMaaf, in the wake of the article that seemingly belittling the mixed doubles pair, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, who managed to win a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro.
The pair lost in straight sets, 21-14 and 21-12 to Indonesia in the finals held early Thursday (Malaysian time).
Facebook user Ronny Pan said that he was not among the millions of Malaysians disappointed with the result, instead he was very proud of the two athletes’ achievement.
Another user by the name Min Jane said that Kosmo made a big mistake in publishing the article, which has raised the ire of Malaysians.
“No doubt Kosmo is stupid. Malaysian united because of your stupidity, glad to see every angry comments at you post,” she posted.
Lockman Lum posted, “I’m not sure it is racist of not, but seriously disappointed to see this thing happened.”
Meanwhile, Deejay Zainey urged Kosmo and the article writer to apologise to all Malaysian citizens.
“We Malaysians are very proud of the mixed doubles pair’s achievement. (Kosmo) has no ethics at all! Please viral… thank you,” he said.
The criticisms, along with the hashtag, are still ongoing on Facebook and Kosmo’s official Twitter account.
Berita Harian was also criticised after it ran an article titled “Peng Soon-Liu Ying sekadar raih perak” (Peng Soon-Liu Ying only wins silver).
Malaysia is still in the hunt for its very first Olympic gold medal in the men’s doubles event when Goh V Shem-Tan Eee Kiong will take on Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan from China in the final this Friday.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei is also ontrack to fulfil his gold medal dream when he takes on his rival from China, Lin Dan in the semi-finals, also on this Friday.
