Muhyiddin (right) chairing the Cabinet Committee For Sports meeting in Putrajaya, Tuesday.The Cabinet Committee for Sports wants a new National Sports Policy (NSP) that will complement the current economic and social development in the country.
In its first meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Tuesday, the committee gave a clear signal that change is on the way and the first step was a review of the exisisting NSP.
"An improvised version of the NSP will be presented to the Cabinet soon. We want to make sports a culture and industry in Malaysia. Under the new policy, sports will be promoted extensively. We want to repackage sports to make it more attractive to the public," said Muhyiddin.
In principle, the new policy is to promote a sporting culture, enhance social integration and also create economic opportunities through sports.
To make sports more attractive, changes will have to take place soon, and if the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee was an indication, we can see some drastic changes coming in the near future.
Muhyiddin added that the committee will also propose to the Cabinet to review the Institutions of Higher Learning Policy to give more flexibility to athletes to complete their studies.
"We want to produce thinking athletes by creating more flexibility for them to complete their degree programmes. Our vision is to have 30 per cent of our national athletes studying in public universities," said Muhyiddin, who confirmed that the Asia University Sports Council will also be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated a RM16 million budget to prepare 19 athletes from four sports -- badminton, archery, cycling and diving -- for the 2012 London Olympics. The budget will cover all preparation for these athletes ahead of the Olympics which includes exposure, coaching, conditioning and scientific elements.
Muhyiddin Yassin said these athletes will be given full support by the government to prepare for the Olympics.
The athletes under the 'Road To London' programme are World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Fairuzizuan Tazari-Zakry Latif, Wong Mew Choo, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (badminton), Cheng Chu Sian, Marbawi Sulaiman, Wan Khalmizam Wan Abd Aziz, Nazrin Aizat Abd Rahim (archery), Azizul Hasni Awang, Rizal Tisin, Josiah Ng, Junaidi Nasir, Edrus Yunus (cycling), Leong Mun Yee and Pandelela Rinong (diving).
Diving was recently added into the programme after Mun Yee-Pandelela won the 10-metre platform synchronised bronze medal in the World Championships in Rome, two months ago.
New National Sports Policy is a breath of fresh air. But to really get this new policy in, I think the Deputy PM will have to look into all the organs governing sports in Malaysia. This is from the Sports Commissioner office, The Natiopnal Sports Council and National Sports Institute. That I think the Deputy PM can do.
ReplyDeleteHowever what the Deputy PM must do and must have the will to do is to relook at the NGO Olympic Council of Malaysia. The Minister must ask honestly whether OCM are doing their job in accordance to their constitution and their charter. It is time OCM must have their ISO rating as an NGO and there must be a system of check and balances to monitor their operations. Now OCM is interpreting their own Olympian spirit in the name of Malaysian sports. Back stabbing, running down officials, telling the NSA who to run their association are all done in the name of the Olympian spirit. Right and fair has taken a new meaing and the authority of this is DSKC.
The Ministers all are fully aware of the nonsense and politics in OCM. In the event the Minister wants to introduce the New Sport Policy, it is incumbent to put OCM in order first and then followed by the other bodies.
I hope the same can be offered to the officials whether past or current (National or states). For me education / knowledge is a lifelong journey and I would sign up for it if it's available for us officials.
ReplyDeleteWhat is written by Anon 12.10 is very true. It is without a doubt that the OCM has to be looked into. TIME HAS COME THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CHANGE. What is going on in OCM is a disgrace to the sports fraternity. Why must people be placed in OCM board be the choice of the Sec. Gen? What is going on? The current board, pushing aside board members like Low Beng Choo, Dato Zakaria, Dato W.Y. Chin, Dato Kee Yong Wee and Rosmanizam,
ReplyDeletethe rest are only there for the purpose of filling up the position.
People like Dato Roy Rajasingam, Dato Sani Karim,
Moira Tan, Ramli Ibrahim including Dato Jegthesan are there for namesake only. These people are not true sports people. Even the worst kind of people are better than them.
Sports NSAs should look at people who are willing to give a friendly atmosphere and who spend time to know about all the sports big or small to partake and contribute to sports in a positive manner. It seems to be noted over the last few months that two names were always popping up and that these two were the brunt of anger and mud slinging and made into permanant enemies by the Sec. Gen. of OCM. Have these two actually stepped the SG' toes?. Are these two that bad in their Olimpism attitude that they have to be destroyed not only by SG but also by Dato Roy and particular staff of the OCM?
There should be a limit to thoes who holds the post in the Board so that they will not feel that the OCM and the NSAs owe them a living. A minimum of eight years should be enough or the moment they reach a certain age they should retire. We have to be able to have people who are able to contribute their two cents worth of sports knowledge back to the sports and be brought to sit in the sub committees in OCM and the board of the NSAs.
Please do something about this and do not let our sports go down the drain.