KUALA LUMPUR – Is the government looking to scrap the Podium Programme for sports in tomorrow’s Budget 2022?
According to sources in the sports fraternity, the government could remove the programme from the national budget and allocate the money to other critical sectors.
The Podium Programme, which was initiated in 2016, had an allocation of RM380 million for sports development over a period of five years.
The programme enabled the Youth and Sports Ministry, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) to develop the performance of national athletes competing in international sporting events, such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
“Rumour has it that the ministry is requesting an allocation of RM60 million for the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) but nothing is confirmed yet,” the source told The Vibes.
When The Vibes contacted Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, he said the Podium Programme is instrumental to the sports industry, especially Malaysian hockey.
As the RM4-5 million received by MHC from the programme helps to fund national teams, the National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) and players’ salaries, Subahan said “the programme should not be scrapped”.
“The funds also help us organise world-class tournaments, and we just won the bid to organise the Junior World Cup in 2023, so having the Podium Programme is important.
“Besides hockey, the Podium Programme has helped athletes, such as Datuk Pandelela Rinong, Datuk Azizulhasni Awang and other world-class athletes in Malaysia.
“We need the Podium Programme to continue sports development in the country. The funds are also used to hire sports experts, consultants and coaches at the national level.”
However, he said it is okay if the government wants to reduce the amount to RM30 million instead of the requested RM60 million.
“Reducing the amount is fine but scrapping it totally is not. I hope the sports industry will be given a healthy budget because we are already in the endemic phase, and sporting events are back after the lockdowns from the Covid-19 pandemic for the past year and a half.”
NSC Director-General Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail told The Vibes that he has no idea as to whether the government plans to remove the Podium Programme from Budget 2022.
“Nobody knows anything yet. We have to wait and see what the government announces tomorrow.” – The Vibes, October 28, 2021
