PUTRAJAYA, April 19 — State governments should not treat the sports sector like a stepchild when it comes to providing allocations under their state budget, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
She said sports allocations are a form of investment by the states to ensure their athletes get to train in facilities developed by the Federal government and handed over to the states for maintenance.
“Sports development involves the commitment of state governments. As can be seen from the Malaysia Games (Sukma), if states do not invest and do not send athletes, there is a chance an event can be dropped due to a lack of participation.
“That is why for sports to succeed, it’s not only about the involvement of the National Sports Council, it also requires involvement at the state government level,” she told a press conference after announcing tax exemptions for sports training fees, here, today.
Yeoh was commenting on a report that women’s futsal and women’s 10-metre platform diving have been dropped from the 21st Sukma to be held in Sarawak this August.
On April 6, Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was reported as saying that these two events were dropped due to a lack of participants.
According to Yeoh, state government support and investments are crucial to help the Youth and Sports Ministry succeed in its plans to empower the sports sector and athletes in the country.
— Bernama
