Awesome trio: Olympic heroes (from left) Lee Zii Jia, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik posing with their Olympic bronze medals won in Paris.
PETALING JAYA: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) are pleased with the RM245mil allocated to sports in Budget 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that RM230mil will be allocated to the podium programme, Olympics Road to Gold programme, Paralympics and others while RM15mil will be given to the national football team, Under-18 and Under-13 teams.
The allocation was more than the RM224mil given in Budget 2024.
OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said that the budget was a bold step towards inclusivity and praised the budget for its continued support of both Olympic and non-Olympic sports.
“Key initiatives, such as the Road to Gold and Podium programmes, continue to provide world-class training and resources for athletes. The allocation for football and tax exemptions for recipients of the Skim Hadiah Kemenangan Sukan (Shakam) further demonstrates the Government’s dedication to sporting excellence,” said Norza.
“Budget 2025 reflects the Government’s deep understanding of the role sports play in uniting and uplifting our nation.
“This budget is a clear reflection of the Government’s vision for an inclusive sports ecosystem and one that nurtures champions and promotes community well-being.”
Norza further noted the importance of maintaining the matching grant, which provides financial support for high-performance sports events organised by sports bodies and encourages private sector partnerships.
This initiative, he believes, will continue to enhance the quality of sports events in the country.
The introduction of tax relief for parents purchasing sports equipment is another progressive step, encouraging broader participation in sports and fostering active lifestyles across all
segments of society.
The generous allocation is a boost for sports as the chase for the elusive Olympics gold medal continues in the next four years leading to the 2028 Los Angeles edition.
In the Paris Games in August, Malaysia won two bronze medals through shuttlers Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles) and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) while Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah created history by becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the semi-finals in the Olympics.
