THE Penang government has been taking proactive measures to ensure that the welfare of its athletes is protected, state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said.
“One of our main objectives is to strengthen the state’s sports development, and to do so, we need to ensure that our athletes are taken care of.
“We introduced the Penang Athletes Career Education (PACE) programme as we want a better future for the athletes.
“The PACE programme assists athletes in their education, career and welfare.
“We realise that many parents are discouraging their children from becoming athletes as they are worried that their children’s future may be affected.
“More so, when many of us were shocked by the news that 144 national athletes were axed from the National Sports Council (NSC) Podium Programme,” he said in his speech in Komtar.
Soon said that (on a contrary) the Penang government wanted to do its best to guarantee and care for the future of its athletes.
“Besides the PACE programme, we have also launched the Penang Junior Coaches programme which provides an opportunity for the state’s athletes and former athletes to take up junior coaching,” he said before presenting the ‘Management and Administrative Assistance Schemes’ (SBPP) incentives to the successful sports associations at Komtar today.
On SBPP 2021, Soon said the schemes were meant to assist state sports associations in an effort to further accelerate the sports sector in Penang.
“We have 47 sports associations registered under the Penang State Sports Council.
“The sports associations have been evaluated by a group of representatives from the Penang State Sports Council and they have been grouped under Category A, B, C and D,” he said.
Earlier, Penang State Sports Council director Harry Chai said sports associations grouped under Category A would receive an aid of RM20,000 each, while B and C would receive RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively. Unfortunately, those under Category D would not be receiving the incentives under SBPP.
“The evaluation process for the SBPP 2021 was conducted from Dec 1, 2020 to Nov 30, last year. Marks were given based on the documents submitted by the respective sports associations, and the fulfilment of the 10 criteria listed under the SBPP.
“The associations that achieve above 80% are grouped under Category A, 60%-79% (Category B), 40%-59% (Category C), and 39% and below (Category D),” Chai said in his speech.
Only four sports associations were grouped under Category B, while 23 associations were placed under Category C. Twenty sports associations failed to receive the SBPP 2021 incentives as they were grouped under Category D.
None of the associations made it to Category A.
Soon urged the sports associations to take the matter seriously and do better in the next SBPP.
“This is just the beginning. Build your courage and do better.
“Those criteria are there to pave the way for better sports development in Penang,” Soon said.
The four associations grouped under Category B were Penang Chess Association, Penang Amateur Swimming Association, Penang State Taekwondo Association, and Penang Floorball Association.
Also present were Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian