The Malaysian Insight

THE 12-year old chess district champion at the centre of a media frenzy over her dressing during a competition last week was not forced to withdraw but had done so willingly, according to the tournament organisers.

Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) information officer Amirul Mohamad said the “dignified appearance” for chess tournaments differs according to situations and is usually to be decided by the chief arbiter and tournament director.

“For example, during this year’s women’s world championship in Iran, the organiser wanted participants to wear a scarf.

“So the chief arbiter or tournament director can impose a certain dress code based on the situation at hand,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Amirul said while dress codes were a part of all internationally recognised chess tournaments, violations rarely, if ever, led to disqualifications.

According to Amirul, the girl had played in the first round of the tournament on April 14 when the arbiters noticed that her skirt appeared too short when she was seated. After her match, she was asked to change before the next round.

“The girl played in the first round, then the other arbiters including the chief arbiter noticed her attire.

“The chief arbiter spoke to her during the second round about her attire. After the second round she went with her mom to the tournament secretariat table to hand her letter of withdrawal with her signature. She wasn’t forced at all,” he said.

The girl’s mother, Chin Wai Ling, has said she expected tournament organisers to apologise over the incident, and said she has issued a letter demanding an explanation.

In a response letter addressed to Chin, tournament director Sophian Yusof said there had been no official protest from the girl at the time of the incident, nor was there an appeal against the dress code.

“The organiser (tournament official and the school) had advised your daughter to dress accordingly for the following days since the tournament was being played inside a school compound under the Ministry of Education,” he said in the letter.

According to MCF’s Amirul, the whole issue was blown out of proportion due to a Facebook post by a third party who was not there at the tournament.

“The Facebook post was made by a third party who wasn’t even there at the tournament. It wasn’t made by the mother or the player, so it is actually untrue.

“Even the coach wasn’t there at the playing hall, so how can he make a statement if he is not there?”

The tournament director has lodged a police report towards the Facebook user that “spinned” the story, said Amirul.

The National Scholastic chess tournament was held in Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah, Putrajaya and was jointly organised by the MCF and Ministry of Education as a recognised World Chess Federation (FIDE) event.

Yesterday, the girl’s coach Kausal Khandhar and mother told The Star Online that the player was forced to withdraw from the chess championship due to her failure to change her attire.

Chief Arbiter Chan Kwai Keong issued a statement today saying that the issue will be further investigated by an Appeals Committee.

“The organisers do not admit to the complainant’s version of the events. The organisers, however, will refrain from making a statement, as they wish to allow the Appeals Committee all opportunities to make an impartial and fair decision,” he said in the statement. – April 29, 2017.