By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 18: The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and Sarawak Sports Council (SSC) will look into ways to assist Sarawakian athletes who have been axed from the National Sports Council’s (NSC) training programme.
Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who has expressed unhappiness over the matter, however gave assurance to assist affected Sarawakian athletes.
“This is because the time for an athlete in sports with a competitive edge is very short. If they do not have the assistance or support, (they will not be able to go far).
“I am not too happy about it (axing of Sarawak athletes and terminating their allowances). I don’t know what is going on,” he said.
He highlighted this to reporters after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Sarawak Sports Council (SSC) and Kuching City FC as well as Chinese New Year celebration at a hotel here today.
Abdul Karim learnt that a few Sarawakian athletes were among 144 athletes dropped by NSC due to lack of funding in Budget 2022 recently.
He also noted that swimmer Welson Sim had quit the national swimming team, allegedly over a disagreement with his coach Chris Martin.
“I have yet to look into this deeper but as much as possible, we will try to assist so that at least Sarawakian athletes are taken care of.
“Some of our athletes in Bukit Jalil have been terminated and that is not very good. Whatever politics are involved in sports in Peninsula Malaysia, let them be but I am not happy about it,” he added. — DayakDaily
