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KUCHING, Sept 16: The Sports Basic Training Skills: Swimming programme (KLAS swimming) for phase two, running from September to December 2023, has been expanded to 36 more locations across the country with target participation of 5,760 children aged 6 to 12 years from lower-income families.
Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh said this expansion is in response to the enthusiastic response for phase one of the programme, which is organised by the Ministry through the National Youth and Sports Department (JBSN).
“The KLAS swimming phase 1 programme, which was launched last May, witnessed a positive turnout with a total of 739 participants among children aged 6 to 12 years successfully completing their learning and training.
“An average of 90 per cent have mastered the basic swimming skills, especially in water confidence and various swimming techniques,” she said in a media release after launching the KLAS swimming for phase 2 at the Aquatic Excellence Centre in Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex here today.
In Sarawak, phase two of the KLAS swimming is conducted at the Aquatic Excellence Centre in Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex and Kota Samarahan swimming pool.
Yeoh emphasised that the main objective of this initiative is to reduce the incidence of drowning, particularly among children in B40 families, by imparting fundamental swimming techniques.
“In addition, the Ministry is also implementing a pilot project under the KLAS swimming programme (from August until September) involving 20 children under the age of 6 (in Selangor), 40 senior citizens (in Johor) and 20 disabled people (in Negeri Sembilan),” she added.
Pre-registration for phase 2 of the KLAS Swimming programme commenced on Aug 16, 2023, and was publicised through the JBSN’s social media channels. Successful participants’ parents or guardians will be contacted by the JBSN Secretariat for further coordination.
Yeoh hopes that this initiative would further advance the government’s mission to promote and integrate sports into the culture, in line with the aspirations under the National Sports Vision 2030 (VSN 2030) and the Malaysia Madani framework.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sarawak Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu was present. — DayakDaily
