KUALA LUMPUR – The Selangor government’s RM6 million allocation for sports was approved after discussions with the Selangor State Sports Council, according to Selangor Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman, Mohd Najwan Halimi.
Najwan’s response came after several opposition state assemblymen criticised the reduced allocation for sports development under the state budget tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari on November 15.
For the record, the latest allocation for sports has seen a RM2 million reduction compared to last year’s RM8 million.
Concerns have particularly been raised about the adequacy of infrastructure preparations for the 2026 Sukma Games, which Selangor will host.
Speaking in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly earlier today, Najwan said the state government is confident that the allocations are sufficient for Sukma preparations, supplemented by the reserves held by the Selangor State Sports Council over the years.
At the same time, Najwan said that the government is actively working on plans to attract funding from corporations based in Selangor to support some of the state’s sports associations.
“We are fully aware of the importance of this year’s sports allocation, particularly in preparation for hosting Sukma 2026. As hosts, we aim to showcase our athletes and sports figures in the best possible light, striving to emerge as overall champions of the games.
“Therefore, preparations for the athletes must commence early, and this responsibility lies with the Selangor State Sports Council.
“Our priority is to ensure their training allowances, access to training venues, high-performance coaches, insurance coverage, sports science facilities, and participation in both local and international competitions.
“The allocation this time has been carefully calculated with input from the Selangor State Sports Council. Furthermore, we are working to secure additional support from corporations based in Selangor to fund the state’s sports associations,” said Najwan. – November 21, 2024
