PETALING JAYA: Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu has backed the youth and sports ministry’s decision to suspend national hockey player Hanis Nadiah Onn for making a racial slur.

The former youth and sports minister said there was no room for racist comments in Malaysia’s multiracial community, adding that Hanis must take responsibility for her now-deleted comment on social media.

“A key pillar of Malaysia’s society is mutual respect for one another, regardless of political differences, race and religion. Each one of us has a role to play to ensure this mutual respect remains strong.

“Let’s make Hanis’ experience a lesson for us all,” the Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman said in a statement today.

He also hoped that Hanis would receive the necessary support from the National Sports Council (MSN) and Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) so she would not repeat her mistake.

Faizal appeared to contradict his PN colleague Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who had called for Hanis’ suspension to be rescinded since she had apologised over the remark and deleted the comment.

Fadhli, who heads the PAS and PN Youth wings, had also said the suspension was unnecessary and too harsh.

Hanis had reportedly posted a comment on an Instagram posting of a recent AR Rahman concert, implying that the venue would have been smelly.

The youth and sports ministry announced her indefinite suspension yesterday, adding that it would be reviewed by the MHC if she showed a positive change in behaviour.

Earlier today, Hanis said she accepted her suspension with an open heart and will be committed to performing for her club.