Harimau Malaya to get RM15m boost, says PM

A total of RM15 million has been allocated to elevate the national football team, Harimau Malaya, into a football giant in the Asian region.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said of that amount, the government will allocate RM10 million through the Finance Ministry while RM5 million is a commitment from the private sector.

The move was also to ensure that Harimau Malaya can guarantee the welfare of its players and employ the best managers and coaches, he added.

“If we get managers and coaches who show their commitment even though they are from abroad, I believe we can raise the name and reputation of Harimau Malaya in representing our beloved country.

“We want to ensure the comfort and welfare of the football players, their managers and coaches,” Anwar said when speaking at the Finance Ministry staff gathering in Putrajaya today.

The prime minister will hold a meeting with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) after returning from an official visit to Russia to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, which runs from today to Friday.

Anwar will also ask Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to immediately coordinate the distribution of allocation besides assigning a senior Finance Ministry official to ensure that all related financial matters are in order.

“Hopefully, apart from driving economic growth, we can also showcase Malaysia’s excellent football performance,“ he said.

Anwar also announced that he would personally monitor and assist in efforts to strengthen Harimau Malaya.

“Recalling the many problems of people, especially our young people who are interested in football, I decided to personally monitor and help strengthen the Harimau Malaya team,“ he said.

- Bernama

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