KUALA TERENGGANU – A total of 387 athletes, coaches and team managers received incentives amounting to RM1.5 million for their success at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) that was held in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the incentives were a token of appreciation for the diligence of all parties that enabled Terengganu to emerge as overall runner-up in the Sukma with a final medal tally of 64 gold, 49 silver and 55 bronze.
He said canoeist Shahida Asyiqin Rusli was the highest recipient with RM33,500 for contributing the highest individual collection of four gold, three silver and six bronze medals.
“Shahida Asyiqin, 18, who comes from Kuala Terengganu, became the pride of Terengganu at Sukma when she not only collected 13 medals but also broke three national records,” he said after the Terengganu State Contingent’s Appreciation ceremony for the Sukma here today.
Also present were the State Youth Development Committee, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations chairman Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah and the director of the Terengganu State Sports Council, Shahrizal Yahaya.
According to Samsuri, even though Terengganu failed to emerge as the overall champion at this year’s Sukma, the state was still proud because the number of medals collected exceeded the set target of 57 gold, 25 silver and 40 bronze.
Even the football team guided by head coach Badrul Afzan Razali managed to give Terengganu a golden sheen after last winning it 12 years ago.
Based on these achievements, he said the state government had increased the amount awarded as an incentive for each medal won by athletes.
“Initially, we set an incentive amount of RM3,000 for gold medals, RM2,000 for silver and RM1,000 for bronze.
“But after seeing the encouraging achievements, we have increased the incentive to RM5,000 for all the medals won,” he said.
At the ceremony, Samsuri also launched the establishment of the Terengganu State Athlete Welfare Secretariat (SUKANT) with an initial fund of RM100,000.
Samsuri said the main objective of establishing SUKANT was to take care of matters related to welfare, charity and the well-being of athletes and also former athletes from Terengganu.
He said athletes and former athletes can apply for any assistance, including education, business or medical loans, if needed.
“The role of SUKANT is the same as the National Athlete Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) at the national level. Any of our athletes who have received donations from YAKEB can still apply to SUKANT.
“We will start by giving welfare cards to former athletes who have served the state. They can use this card at private clinics appointed as panel clinics,” he said. – Bernama, October 20, 2022
