Former triple jump national athlete Zaki Sadri welcomed the RM1.2 billion allocated for sports development programmes, which was announced in Budget 2017 by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.

“As a sportsperson, I am definitely happy and thankful to the prime minister.

“However, I hope that the allocation will be channelled appropriately and there will be no further leakages, as what had occurred previously,” Zaki told Malaysiakini.

Zaki’s remarks were in reference to the arrest of a Youth and Sports Ministry officer in March this year on suspicion of masterminding a syndicate responsible for misappropriation of government funds totalling RM107 million.

The syndicate, which had been operating since 2010, allegedly hosted non-existing programmes with payments made to a contractor through the division secretary.

Next year’s budget for sports will see RM450 million earmarked for the 29th Sea Games and the 9th Para-Asean Games next year.

The allocation for sports next year has increased significantly from the RM930 million allocated for this year.

Meanwhile, Zaki said the issue of corruption involving the Youth and Sports Ministry must be eradicated and those involved be purged from the ministry.

“If not, no matter how much the prime minister gives (to the ministry), the allocation will not be fully enjoyed by athletes and used for the development of sports.

“It will only fill the pockets of these people who act as though they are sports lovers, but instead of helping to develop sports, they destroy it,” he said.

Such people, Zaki added, are “parasites” who misuse the name of sports.