The Youth and Sports Ministry will engage with the stakeholders to reset the sporting landscape in Malaysia.
Its minister Hannah Yeoh said she will have a cabinet meeting with the Education and Higher Education Ministry to help with the grassroots development.
“Schools and universities are the base and that is where the sporting activities happen. We need to make sure that we have the biggest platform to unearth new talents.
“We cannot only depend on National Sports Council (NSC) and the government to drive the development of sports at the national level.
“It has to start from district, school, and state level as everyone has to play their part,” she said after officiating the National Martial Arts Championships at Titiwangsa Stadium here today.
The Sports Ministry has received RM40 million worth of matching grants from the Finance Ministry and Hannah wants to use it to create sporting events to cultivate grassroots talents.
“We want to hold more events like this (National Martial Arts Championship), so the young ones can come and participate and grow their interest in sports.
“Tournaments like this also allow national associations to scout new talents,” she said.
Meanwhile, commenting in regard to politicians’ involvement in sports, Hannah said that ideally, sports and politics must be separated.
“For a reset to happen, we must make sure all of these associations have enough funds to help them develop the sport.
“That is why associations engage with individuals with ‘influence’ – to help them secure funding.
“When we talk about reset, it includes finances up to finding new talents. Everything needs to be relooked,” she says.
Hannah said that sports in Malaysia do not receive enough funding, citing that sports need funding from the private sector and not only the government.
“If we look at sports as only recreational, then no one will invest in it.
“That is why a reshuffle is needed,” she said. – The Vibes, May 21, 2023
