No pay cuts for athletes, coaches since MCO
There has not been any cuts in the training allowances and pay of national athletes and coaches since the movement control order (MCO) started on March 18, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) deputy minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (above) said that even though training has been quarantine-based since July, the welfare of athletes and coaches was still looked after.
“KBS through the National Sports Council (MSN) and...
There has not been any cuts in the training allowances and pay of national athletes and coaches since the movement control order (MCO) started on March 18, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) deputy minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (above) said that even though training has been quarantine-based since July, the welfare of athletes and coaches was still looked after.
“KBS through the National Sports Council (MSN) and National Sports Associations (NSAs), with the cooperation of stakeholders like the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) constantly make efforts to raise the performance of national athletes and has never neglected them no matter the situation.
“Those under full-time training are offered packages encompassing monthly training allowance, meals and accommodation, competitions online or simulations, training and competition equipment, coaching expertise, as well sports science and medical services,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session.
He was replying a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Ind-Muar) on aid and follow-up programmes for national athletes who could not participate in international meets due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fayhsal said Covid-19 had affected training for athletes at various levels but MSN with the cooperation of NSAs and the National Sports Institute (ISN) had conducted programmes in line with National Security Council (MKN) standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure the fitness of athletes do not decline.
“Among the programmes run during the MCO were self-training modules with monitoring by coaches online from April 2, giving special dispensation for the Road To Tokyo Special Training Camp on a quarantine-based approach for athletes identified for the Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympics, from June 1-30,” he said.
“Training programmes for full-time athletes started in stages from July 5 for the Podium Programme and back-up athletes,” he said.
Fayhsal explained that even though training was conducted full-time, national athletes could not join international championships, which were postponed or called off causing MSN, NSAs, and ISN to organise closed competitions.
“Among them were an Archery Simulation Championship, Badminton 100 Plus National Junior Ranking Challenge, Internal Squash Championship, Weightlifting National Test/Trial, and Swimming Time Trial,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fayhsal said "sports bubbles” were under consideration by KBS and MKN to ensure organising local and international meets can be done down the road.
- Bernama
