Tuesday October 30, 2012

Government spends big to generate sporting success

By ASHREENA PILLAI

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s intent on making Malaysia a sporting powerhouse is loud and clear – with RM187.2mil being poured into sports development for next year.

“This is an increment from our previous years. The challenge for us here is simply that that we don’t just spend money, but to make sure that the money will generate sporting success, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who chaired the National Sports Council (NSC) board of managers’ meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“We are satisfied with the performance of our athletes at the recent Olympics and Paralympic Games in London. Although we didn’t win gold this time, it was by far our best performance to date. And we know we can excel in different sports – Pandelela Rinong winning the bronze showed us just that.”

Also present at the meeting were NSC director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar.

Of the total sum, RM8.5mil will be allocated for next year’s 16th edition of Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) in Kuala Lumpur.

The Games, which will feature 21 sports, will be held on June 28-July 7 and will utilise Universiti Putra Malaysia’s hostel as the athletes’ village.

Ahmad Shabery also announced that the NSC and the Paralympic Council of Malaysia will set up a special committee to discuss the issue of providing cash incentives to paralympic athletes.

He said that the incentive should not be called pensions but rather a fixed remuneration. “We are very proud of the achievements of the paralympic athletes in London and will look into a scheme that will be fair as there are many different categories in paralympics,” he said.

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