The Malaysian Insight

A CHESS official today denied being present when a 12-year-old competitor was told off for wearing inappropriate clothes, which has sparked outrage and calls for his resignation from the Malaysian Chess Federation. 

Sophian A. Yusuf broke his silence when he said he had never seen the 12-year-old girl at the National Scholastic Chess Championship 2017 or the dress she wore until someone posted the picture on social media.

“I have been slandered; at all material times, I have never said the word ‘seductive’ during the whole tournament,” Sofian said, answering critics who have slammed him on social media over the incident.

Sophian said he was at the back of the hall when the girl was told by the chief arbiter that her attire was inappropriate.

“I was at the back of the hall talking to the principal about the air-cond, whether we should fix it for tomorrow’s match, when it happened.”

At this point the 42-year-old father of two broke down in tears. He said he had received threats and insults since the alleged incident was published on social media on Friday.

“I am a father too, I have a family. Do you think I would do something like that?” he said shakily, eyes red with tears.

Sophian said he had only found out about the girl’s withdrawal from the arbiter’s report.

Sophian said the report mentioned two arbiters and an assistant arbiter, a woman who had first noticed  the girl’s attire in round one of the tournament.

“During round one, the arbiters and the assistant arbiter did not interrupt the girl. 

“It was only after round one that the assistant arbiter, who is a lady, advised the girl to change her dress accordingly for round two,” he said.

However, in round two, the assistant arbiter noticed that the girl had not changed her attire.

“Since the player had not changed her dress as advised in round one, the arbiter reported the matter to the chief arbiter.

“The chief arbiter then approached the girl in round two and advised her.”

Sophian said the arbiter’s report stopped there and he did not know what was said between the girl and the chief arbiter.

“As the report stops there, I shall not say anything further as I am waiting for the chief arbiter to give me a full report of what happened at this point. He is now in China for a seminar,” he said.

On the second day of the tournament, Sophian said, he received a phone call from the girl’s mother demanding clarification, to which he replied that he needed to first refer to the chief arbiter.

“The chief arbiter then reported to me that the player had voluntarily withdrawn from the tournament and had handed over a signed letter of withdrawal.

“I also learnt that at no time was she threatened by anyone with any disciplinary action or anything of that sort.

“Convinced by the briefing by the chief arbiter and the report on the incident, and that there was no official appeal, I decided that the case was closed and no further action was required,” he said.

Sophian said he had witnesses and evidence to back his claims but did not want to comment further as police investigations were underway. He said he had also reported the threats he had received to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Since the allegations surfaced, Sophian’s picture and personal details have been circulated on social media, drawing calls for his removal as the Malaysian Chess Federation secretary.

The story has also been picked up by international media, including the BBC, Washington Post, and Huffington Post.

The coach and the mother of the girl have gone silent after the coach posted the allegations against the tournament director on Facebook  on Friday. Calls and text messages from The Malaysian Insight to the two have been ignored. 

The coach had demanded an apology from Sophian within five days of his Facebook post, but Sophian said he had not received a letter to the effect.

“I am not planning to issue an apology as it has been decided that there is no case for further action.”

As to whether he would be stepping down from his post at the Malaysian Chess Federation, a meeting would be held soon to decide what to do next.

“I will sit down with all the excos to discuss our next course of action”

In spite of all the grief the case has caused him, Sophian said he wished the girl nothing but the best.

“I would like to inform everyone that for whatever damage was done to me and my family by this tragedy, I have never, ever had any hatred towards to her.

“I still wish that she will be successful in everything that she does, throughout her life and chess career,” he said, sobbing. – May 2, 2017.