NHG's Employee: Public pressure mount on Lee Bee Wah with Dr Tan Eng Liang joining in the fray

Public pressure mount on Lee Bee Wah with Dr Tan Eng Liang joining in the fray

Public pressure continues to mount on Lee Bee Wah to substantiate her allegations of ex-coach Liu Guodoing lacking professionalism and integrity. with Singapore’s Chef-de-Mission for the 2008 Olympic being the latest to join the table tennis coach saga.

Dr Tan Eng Liang, who worked closely with coach Liu Guodong prior to the Beijing Games supports him in asking for an explanation from the Singapore Table Tennis Association on remarks made about his professionalism. (read article here)

Dr Tan does not doubt Liu’s professionalism as he had delivered the silver medal for Singapore. He gave an example that if performance takes up 80 per cent, that alone should qualify Liu for the award. He added the association should withdraw the statement if they are unable to substantiate it.

In an earlier statement released to the press, STTA President Lee Bee Wah claimed that Liu does not deserve the award as he lacked “professionalism and integrity”.

Her unmitigated outburst against the highly regarded coach who won Singapore’s first Olympic medal in 48 years, sparked a massive public furore with many Singaporeans calling her to resign to take responsibility for the shameful fiasco.

Liu Guodong, who is currently coaching the Indonesian Table Tennis team was infuriated by Lee’s remarks in the media. He has since arrived in Singapore asking for clarifications from Lee without which he may consider taking legal action against her.

Lee Bee Wah has remained uncontactable so far. She had also declined to speak more on the matter. As a public figure in a leadership position, her words carry weight and will have a detrimental impact on Liu’s future as a coach.

While STTA has largely stood by Lee Bee Wah, the general public remained skeptical of her allegations because she had offered a contract to Liu to stay on as coach.

If Liu really lacks “professionalism and integrity”, why did she even bother to renew his contract upon its expiry and why wasn’t the problem detected earlier?

Liu Guodong had been with STTA for 4 years before Lee Bee Wah took over the organization. There were no complaints from STTA about his work which surfaced only after the Beijing Games.

Both Lee Bee Wah and STTA are really stuck in a quandrary now. It will be difficult for them to substantiate their claims against Liu given his performance and track record. Is it possible for an “unprofessional” coach to win an Olympic silver medal?

It will be a terrible loss of face for Lee and her credibility will be shredded into pieces if she backed out on her words now and apologize to Liu. On the other hand, she will risk dragging STTA into more controversy if the matter is allowed to escalate up to the courts.

Lee Bee Wah’s position is untenable. She should do the right thing now and resign from STTA to spare herself further humiliation.

Please sign the online petition to remove Lee as STTA President if you haven’t done so:

http://www.petitiononline.com/lbh/petition.html

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28588.25