Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today said the government will fulfil its promise to award RM1 million to each of the three 2016 Rio Paralympics gold medallists.

He said this at an event to welcome the Malaysian contingent at Kompleks Bunga Raya in Kuala Lumpur, thronged by about 1,000 people today.

The bronze medallist will be awarded RM200,000, up from the RM100,000 earlier promised.

Gold medallists will also get lifetime pension.

The gold medallists are Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi (100m sprint, T36), Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put F20) and Abdul Latif Romly (long jump T20). Muhammad Ziyad also set a world record.

Siti Noor Radiah Ismail won bronze in the T20 long jump, setting a new Asian record.

Najib said the athletes are now icons and role models of all Malaysians.

"Why do I say so? Because they overcame their disabilities, showing us the able-bodied that we can reach for extraordinary heights if we have the will to achieve it," he said.

"This is their story and the extraordinary story of the 2016 Rio Olympics, which I hope will inspire us to greater heights," he said.

Coaches will also be rewarded with 30 percent of the cash reward received by the athletes they train.