By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, Oct 7: Sarawak will offer special incentives to all medal winners of the Malaysian Deaf Games (SOPMA), regardless of the state they represent, said Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of SOPMA 2025 at a hotel here on Monday night (Oct 6), she said that this was agreed upon by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Gold medal winners will receive RM5,000, while silver and bronze will receive RM2,000 and RM1,000, respectively.
“This is a historic moment for the games, and a manifestation of inclusivity. This reflects the Premier’s leadership spirit, as he believes that support can unite people across regional borders,” she said.
She added that this also shows that the State government’s stand on inclusivity is more than just a slogan, but also about one’s actions.
The total incentives to be disbursed are RM399,000, with Sabah—as the overall champion—receiving the largest share at RM119,000, followed by Sarawak (RM60,000) and the Federal Territories (RM57,000).
Perlis received RM32,000, followed by Johor (RM29,000), Kedah (RM22,000), Penang (RM17,000), Melaka (RM15,000), Perak (RM12,000), Selangor (RM10,000), Pahang (RM9,000), Kelantan (RM7,000), Terengganu (RM7,000), and Negeri Sembilan (RM3,000).
Meanwhile, commenting on Sarawak securing second place, Fatimah expressed happiness that the State contingent was able to exceed its gold medal target of eight by bringing home nine.
“Congratulations to Sarawak for what we have achieved. We exceeded the target of eight gold medals. So, be proud of yourselves, you did very well,” she said. — DayakDaily
