By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Feb 19: The devastating national budget cut to National Sports Council (NSC) saw some 30 Sarawakian athletes being axed from the Podium and National Backup Programmes.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who was clearly discontented over the matter disclosed that one of the state athletes was two-time Olympian Welson Sim.
The budget cut has resulted in 144 full time athletes dropped by NSC due to lack of funding, from 432 to 288 this year.
Calling it unfortunate, Abdul Karim said Sarawakian national athletes that were being cut off by NSC included those who have made history for Malaysia at competitions of the highest level.
“The downsizing will undoubtedly cause worry for the future of sports in the country. What happened recently was not nice to hear where a lot of our athletes who have been identified for podium finishes to represent Malaysia were dropped from any development programme.
“I was made to understand some 30 athletes from Sarawak were dropped. This is very frustrating not just for the athletes, but for us as well. For years, they have been putting their whole heart and focus to it, they they were suddenly dropped. Now, with no proper coaching, facilities, accommodation, allowance and so on, it is difficult for them to continue,” Abdul Karim said after launching Beccari’s Rattan Valley trail at Kubah National Park today.
He asserts that while Sarawak government may not be able to extend the same kind of allowance which Federal government previously gave, they will try to come up with some figure in between to enable state athletes to continue their training.
To a question if the Sarawak government can consider sending its own athletes to compete internationally, Abdul Karim explained that whenever there is an international event, these athletes must compete under Malaysia, and not under individual states.
“I personally feel the Federal government must play their part to bring up athletes fairly regardless of which States. So long as they are good and have proven to reach the international level, they should be given the opportunity to do so.
“The competitive age for athletes is not very long. Once they hit late their 20s or are in their 30s, it is not there anymore. Of course, the Sarawak government can also play our part but do bear in mind, we do not have facilities and resources like the ones in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. We don’t even have a mini sports school like the one in Peninsular Malaysia,” he added.
Absul Karim further added that a proper sport school is very costly, a figure that can hit more than RM1 billion.
He disclosed that when Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was the Minister of Education, Sarawak had asked for a sports school, but the reply given was that the Federal government could only offer an art school which cost RM300 million because a sports school will cost about RM700 million. — DayakDaily
