BANGI: The RM15mil allocation for the Under-18 and Under-13 Harimau Malaya teams is not intended for arbitrary use or salary payments, says Hannah Yeoh.
The Youth and Sports Minister explained that the funds were designated specifically for hiring coaches to strengthen the Harimau Malaya squad and associated teams.
She added that the Finance Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry would oversee the allocation's use by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
"We are awaiting FAM's discussions with the National Sports Council on how to utilise the RM15mil. It will be monitored by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
"FAM is not permitted to use it for salary payments but rather for hiring coaches to enhance the Harimau Malaya squad, the national team, and the junior team," she said at a press conference following the 19th ILKBS convocation ceremony at the Bangi Avenue Convention Centre on Saturday (Oct 19).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when presenting Budget 2025 on Friday (Oct 18), announced a RM15mil allocation to support the development of national football.
Over RM230mil was also allocated to fund the podium programme, training, the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, and to prepare para-athletes for the World Para Games, including the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
Yeoh indicated that the funds would be used for grassroots development and to empower high-performance athletes through sports development programmes such as football, hockey, rugby, and netball.
"We do not want to lose athletes and rely only on a few; hence, we need to expand at the grassroots level. A sports development committee at the MSN level has already begun examining this.
"For RTG, we are currently reviewing it, and the (RTG) committee will convene to discuss it,” she added.
Yeoh mentioned that the national professional men’s doubles team, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, currently ranked the 10th best in the world, qualify to participate in the RTG programme.
The decision will be finalised at a committee meeting later this month. – Bernama
