KUALA LUMPUR — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) should leverage its Budget 2025 allocation and collaborate with the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to nurture young talent for the 2027 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, says national junior hockey coach I. Vikneswaran.
Vikneswaran, who also serves as president of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA), emphasised the importance of grassroots sports development in the country and called for increased funding for KBS.
Speaking to Scoop, Vikneswaran suggested that underutilised futsal and badminton courts in People’s Housing Project (PPR) areas could be better used through collaboration between the two ministries.
It was reported that there are over 100,000 PPR projects nationwide. In the 2024 federal budget, RM2.47 billion was set aside to build more PPR projects this year, with the government stating that some would be partially financed by the private sector.
“I think with the budget allocated to the KBS over the years, too much emphasis has been placed on high-performance sports and athletes. I believe this approach needs to change,” Vikneswaran said when contacted.
“Grassroots development is the foundation of any sport, and more funding is definitely needed. If we are building a taller structure, the base must be strong, or the entire structure will collapse.
“Based on my visits to several PPR projects over the years, I have noticed they have multipurpose futsal and badminton courts that are underutilised. I believe that we, as coaches, sports associations, and national sports bodies, can bring this to KBS’s attention and make use of these facilities.
“Currently, there are very few playing grounds for hockey players in the country. If KBS can collaborate with KPKT, they could discuss and devise ways to conduct more grassroots programmes for Hockey5s and indoor hockey, thereby increasing interest in the sport among youngsters.”
He added that previous collaborations between the ministries had proven successful in the past, and similar programs could help boost participation in hockey, with an eye on including these formats in the 2027 SEA Games.
It is understood that the Subang Jaya City Council has started working with the Selangor Hockey Association to fully utilise the badminton and futsal courts for grassroots hockey programmes.
Meanwhile, Bagan Badminton Club head coach Alif Razlan echoed Vikneswaran’s views, calling for increased government support for grassroots sports.
He said that while the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) supports grassroots clubs, more funds are needed to maximise their impact.
“We don’t blame BAM for not doing enough to support grassroots badminton clubs, as there are hundreds of clubs in the country.
“They do have a special unit under the development committee, but if more funds are allocated to this committee, more work can be done to channel those funds to clubs like ours,” said Alif.
Junior Sports Academy (JSA) director Steven Wong also highlighted the importance of government funding to help football academies run their programmes and maintain their facilities, stressing that grassroots support is essential for the future of Malaysian sports.
“With KBS receiving more funding from the government, they can channel the funds to us, and academies like ours can greatly benefit.
“This support allows us to carry out our programmes more effectively, maintain our facilities, and nurture young talent to their fullest potential.
“It’s crucial that we invest in the foundation of our football ecosystem to ensure sustainable growth for the future,” said Steven.
Last year’s budget saw Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim allocate RM184 million for sports initiatives, a significant reduction from 2023’s allocation of RM399 million.
This year’s Budget 2025 is scheduled to be tabled on October 18. — October 14, 2024
