SUNGAI BULOH, April 17 — Selangor local authorities have been urged to provide dedicated spots to the state’s visually impaired former athletes to allow them to earn a living as buskers after they retire.
State Youth, Sports and Human Capital Development Committee chairman Mohd Khairuddin Othman said the spots should be provided in public areas such as shopping malls and late-night bazaars with disabled-friendly facilities.
He explained that so far three local authorities, namely Shah Alam City Council, Subang Jaya City Council and Petaling Jaya City Council, have provided dedicated busking spots for the former athletes to generate income.
He said these former athletes-turned-buskers complained that it is difficult to find a dedicated spot to play music and earn money.
"We hope all local authorities can accommodate them in suitable locations. Do help them and don’t make it difficult for them with bureaucracy and so on," he told reporters after attending the athletes' appreciation breaking of the fast event here, yesterday.
Mohd Khairuddin said the local authorities should provide the busking spots and the state government will bear other costs.
In the meantime, Mohd Khairuddin said to date the state government has spent nearly RM800,000 to help former Selangor athletes to lead a more comfortable life after they retire under the ‘Ceria Atlet Selangor’ initiative which has been distributed in stages since 2019 to benefit more than 250 low-income athletes to build or repair their homes as well as buy household items.
On the breaking of the fast event, Mohd Khairuddin said the state government provided RM30,000 in Aidilfitri assistance to 150 former Selangor athletes and para-athletes to help reduce their burden ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
— Bernama
