By :
ELAINE MAH
THE
STATE Ministry of Youth and Sports looks at results when it gives allocations
to sports associations, according to Suzannah Liaw, the Ministry's Permanent
Secretary.
Focusing
on swimming she said Sabah's swimming performance in SUKMA showed that there
was a large talent pool in Sabah waiting to be developed.
Overall,
swimming has received one of the highest funding, according to Liaw. This is
one sport that has many coaches - 5 altogether - that are supported by the
state government. She said it is the job of these coaches to develop a workable
program to tap into this talent pool of swimmers in various districts.
Speaking
to an Insight Sabah reporter Liaw disclosed that the RM15.45 million allocated
for sports this year has been one the highest ever provided. Out of this sum,
the Ministry has allocated RM1.4 million to some 37 sports associations under
its purview. Each association is given an amount ranging between 10,000 -
100,000 depending on its needs and performance.
"Where
we see results, that's where we are going to give. Of course at the same time
we do not neglect other sports that we wish to see developed, " she
said.SUKMA provides much of Sabah's benchmark for sports. In terms of
incentives, the Ministry has increased the prize money for a gold medal in
SUKMA from RM2000 to RM3000.
A
Silver medalist receives RM200, and Bronze medalist receives RM 100.
Additionally, State athletes are paid allowances when they train for SUKMA.
Gold medalists are paid RM300 per month during preparation for SUKMA.
The
monthly allowances normally begin approximately one year before SUKMA. The
Ministry also supports athletes who live far from the designated training
facilities by giving them transportation allowances.
Overall,
according to the Permanent Secretary, swimming has received one of the highest
funding to carry out the development programs for swimmers, and swimmers'
participation in various competitions.
However,
when interviewed, state coach Lim Keng Liat said that the allocations were not
adequate and that the lack of funds has hampered the development of swimming in
the state. He said the incentives that the state government provides every two
years during SUKMA are among the lowest compared to other states in Malaysia.
According
to Lim, states like Sarawak and Selangor have already commenced planning for
2014 and 2016 SUKMA programs and have given out allowances to their top
swimmers to motivate them further. He said so far Sabah has yet to do the same.
Government funding according to Lim is the way to go if we want the sport to
progress. If the state wants the swimmers to do well, "they have to begin
to invest more", said Lim.
Liaw,
on the other hand, argued that swimming should not be for money. "It
should be because you love to swim and want to swim. That is the vision that an
athlete should have," she said.
Incentives
aside, Liaw said that sports should be a passion. "Swimming should not be
for money. They should be swimming because they love to swim and want to swim.
That is the vision that an athlete should have," Liaw said.
She
concedes, however, that there are problems that impede the development of
competitive sports. The problem for Sabah according to Liaw is logistics. Most
competitions are held in Peninsular Malaysia. Each time the association sends
swimmers to competitions, it would cost a lot of money.
Therefore,
a big chunk of funding goes to transportation and airfare. In terms of grooming
athletes as future Olympian, the Ministry looks to schools as the primary
feeder for athletes. Liaw said her Ministry is in talks with the department of
Education to look for potential athletes and train them from the primary school
level.
A
national sports school, the third one in Malaysia, has already been built in
Sepanggar and is expected to be fully operational by next year. Costing
approximately RM70 million the training centre's primary focus will be the
development of water sports in Sabah. (Insight Sabah)
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