KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today clarified that national sports associations (NSAs) were asked to open special bank accounts to facilitate fund transfers from the government.
She said this is a primary responsibility of NSAs to ensure all funds channelled to them can be audited and used to help athletes.
“Usually when we want to provide funds to our elite athletes competing abroad, we use the reimbursement method, which means we first agree on how much we want to cover, the NSAs pay first, then they give us receipts, (and) we pay.
“But now we want to simplify this (for) the associations... We give (them) an advance, no need to claim later. For example, (we give) RM 100,000, you (NSAs) compile a report on how you use it, on the condition that we must have an opportunity to audit the money given,” she said.
Yeoh was speaking at a press conference today after officiating the Interclub Taekwondo Championship at Titiwangsa Stadium.
Recently, the minister reportedly said several NSAs had refused to open the special accounts.
Yeoh said she does not want to hear complaints from NSAs about funds being delayed, adding that the ministry has chosen to channel money to these groups directly on the condition they open special bank accounts to receive the funds.
“If (you) don’t open a special account, how do we transfer money? This is basic if (you) want to apply anywhere. Like me, as a member of Parliament, when I receive allocations from the Prime Minister’s Department, I have to open a special account for them to audit how I use the money received.
“I think it’s not just the government, but even when sponsors give funds, they want to know that the money is being spent. It’s normal,” she said.
Yeoh revealed that nine of 19 NSAs have yet to open the special bank accounts.
On a related note, she said the post-mortem for the Paris Olympics on Thursday will be a day-long affair, assisted by Nippon Sports Science University representatives from Japan. The session will probe into why the Malaysian contingent was unable to secure its maiden gold medal at the prestigious world games.
Malaysia ended the Paris 2024 campaign with two bronze medals from badminton through 2022 world men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia.
Meanwhile, 1,500 athletes from 253 taekwondo clubs nationwide are participating in the Interclub Taekwondo Championship to unearth new talent for the national backup squad.
— Bernama
