High-performing athletes given priority to compete at int’l meets: Faizal Azumu

KUALA LUMPUR − The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has assured that high-performing athletes will still be given priority to compete in all three major international sporting meets next year.

Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said although there was no specific allocation for sports announced during the tabling of Budget 2022 − especially with regard to the Podium Programme − KBS would still ensure that the athletes involved were given adequate training and equipment to compete in the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam; Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

“In the current situation, the government is more focused on the economic well-being of the people but do not worry as KBS, along with the National Sports Council, will continue with all (sporting) activities as planned next year,” he said during a press conference at a football charity match between the Malaysian and Japanese All-Stars and Malaysia Deaf Tiger (MDT).

When tabling Budget 2022 at the Dewan Rakyat in October, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced an allocation of RM10 million specifically to enhance the training programmes for para athletes and implement the Para Sports League in preparation for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Apart from that, a total of RM159 million had been allocated for building, upgrading and maintaining sports facilities nationwide − RM50 million for cultivating an active lifestyle culture, including the ‘Fit Forever’ and National Sports Day programmes and RM20 million for national e-sports development, which includes RM5 million for creating a Drone Sports Centre of Excellence. 

Meanwhile, Faizal praised the initiative by Yakult (Malaysia) for organising the charity match to promote a sporting culture among Malaysians.

He also hoped that other private companies could emulate Yakult in helping sports associations for persons with disabilities that need funds to ensure the survival of their athletes.

Meanwhile, Yakult (Malaysia) managing director Hiroshi Hamada said he was elated that they had achieved the target of raising RM300,000 in funds from yesterday’s match.

Hiroshi also hoped more companies would come forward to render assistance, not only to the Malaysian Sports Association for the Deaf (MSDeaf) but to the sports fraternity as a whole.

The charity match yesterday, which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras to help MSDeaf raise funds for sports development next year, saw the Malaysian and Japanese All-Stars trounce MDT 6-1. – Bernama, December 12, 2021