After the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) said they are investigating Kelly Tan for allegedly making inappropriate comments, social media is abuzz with people speaking out in support of the golfer.
And they contend that she did not do anything wrong.
The issue started with Kelly claiming that she did not get "moral support" from MGA during the recent Tokyo Olympics.
Following Kelly's "tell all" interview on Facebook, many Malaysians said they don't see the 28-year-old having said anything inappropriate.
Kelly is alleged to have said in a video interview on Facebook that her interests were not protected in the campaign to represent the nation at the highest level of sports.
MGA had earlier issued a statement saying: "MGA do not condone nor take lightly when one of our athletes who was representing the nation at the Tokyo Olympics uttered such improper, inappropriate and unwarranted statements during a media session.
"The athlete has brought disrepute to the sport of golf, to the MGA, and to the nation in general. MGA will conduct an internal investigation in respect to the matter and appropriate action will be taken, if necessary."
Usually, top athletes in Malaysia are helped by their respective national sports associations (NSAs) in any means possible, especially for multi-sport events, which is considered as a "national service".
In Kelly's case, she has traded her amateur status for a professional card in 2013, and all expenses on the LPGA Tour is borne by her.
However, if Kelly qualifies for a major event like the Olympics, she can get monetary support from MGA through the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
It is learnt that Kelly was given close to RM400,000 to cover her preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, the "lack of support" that Kelly was referring to was not in a financial sense, but morally.
She had hoped for a top official from the Sports Ministry, OCM or NSC to turn up at the Kasumigaseki Golf Club to cheer her on - as this would mean much to her and as a sign of acknowledgement that she represents the nation.
However, complicating the situation was the Tokyo Olympic organising committee's Covid-19 measures, including the discouragement of "unnecessary" individuals at any games event.
OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria had said the Tokyo Olympics were hosted under special circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant special regulations must be followed.
NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said: "We are aware of the statement that was made after the Olympics and the unwarranted statement happened even before the event via her fiance who is also her caddy.
"NSC has helped her as soon as she qualified for the Olympics to the best of our ability. Therefore, I think it was unnecessary to bring up such matters."
Off the greens, Kelly's comments are seen to have upset the MGA, NSC and OCM but yet there are those in the golf fraternity swinging in with support for her.
