Tawfiq hopes for sports budget fair share
KOTA KINABALU: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan is confident that Sabah will be given a fair share of the RM1 billion allocated for sports in the 2018 Budget.
"For now, the ministry has not yet been notified about the amount but I am confident Sabah will get a fair share having contributed to Malaysia's triumph at the recent SEA Games (overall champions) and ASEAN Para Games (second place overall)," he said.
Sabah contributed nine SEA Games gold medals, two silvers and six bronzes. Sabah also won nine ASEAN Para Games gold, as many silver and 10 bronze medals.
"The Youth and Sports Ministry will continue to work together with the Federal Youth and Sports Department and the Federal Ministry (Youth and Sports) to enhance Sabah's achievements in sports to help realise Malaysia's aim of becoming a powerhouse sporting nation.
Tawfiq said this when commenting on Prime Minister Tun Najib Razak's announcement of the 2018 Budget at the Dewan Rakyat, yesterday.
Tawfiq believes Malaysia will continue to make strides in sports development despite the smaller budget compared to last year.
"The budget last year was bigger because of Malaysia's hosting of the 2017 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
"But this year's budget is still bigger than the RM900 million in 2016 and therefore I am confident the development of sports will continue to move forward.
Assistant Minister Datuk Masiung Banah on the other hand described the budget as a gift from the government to all that are involved in sports especially after achieving the overall champion's crown at the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
He said that the Federal Youth and Sports Ministry's Fit Malaysia and National Sports Day programmes which were also given attention in the shaping of the budget, would continue to encourage Malaysians to lead healthy lifestyles through sports.
"The construction of 14 new sports complexes all over the country costing RM112 million showed that the government is sensitive in not only providing recreational infrastructure but more so to uplift the country as a sporting nation.
"Emphasis on the development of football which was mentioned in the budget also showed that the government understands the people's hopes for a new golden era to roll in," Masiung said.
In his budget announcement, Najib mentioned that RM20 million would be to enhance facilities at the Bukit Jalil Sports School.
"Football is the mother of all sports and it is the flame that ignites the sporting spirit. Football can also be a country's product of tourism. Therefore it is right that emphasis is given specially for football," Masiung said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Edward Pudin said the sports budget was progressive and dynamic.
"The RM1 billion budget can help to create development programmes that are continuous to realise Malaysia's aim of becoming a powerhouse nation.
"We in Sabah are definitely hoping for our fair share of the budget so that we can implement development efforts at grassroots level.
Terrance also hoped that the allocation for Sabah would include the necessary provisions for the proposed construction of a rugby stadium next year.