OCM: NSC must explain how they’re going to spend the RM100mil allocation
Our affiliates have the right to know about how the RM100mil allocation will be spent.
Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria
KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) want the National Sports Council (NSC) to explain their plans to get the best out of next year’s RM100mil allocation for the Philippines SEA Games.
Malaysia are expected to compete in 41 sports in the biennial multi- sport Games, but only 27 sports are funded under the recently revamped four- tier sports programme which placed both the Podium and Kita Juara programmes under one roof.
The first three tiers feature sports that are medal prospects at the Olympics (top), Asian Games and Commonwealth Games (second) and SEA Games ( third), while the rest are parked under the fourth tier meant for those non-Games sports that do well in the world and continental cham- pionships.
Among the notable sports that did not even make the third tier are pencak silat, netball, rugby, billiards and snooker, winter sports ( ice skating and figure skating) and football.
These sports, especially winter sports, pencak silat, netball and rugby, have every right to feel bitter as they have contributed a combined 17 golds for the national contingent at last year’s SEA Games.
OCM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said the OCM would request the NSC to send one of their top officials to attend the OCM council meeting on Saturday to provide a detailed explaination.
“Our affiliates have the right to know about how the RM100mil allocation will be spent,” said Norza after chairing the OCM Exco Board meeting yesterday.
“We were told by the NSC that the sports programmes only comprise 27 sports, so what will happen to the rest?”
The NSC will meet all the national sports associations ( NSAs) in a two- day workshop which begins today to finalise their athletes and coaches before the system goes full swing next January.
Some of the NSAs are concerned that they would get a raw deal from the limited allocation.
Meanwhile, Norza said the chef de mission for the Philippines SEA Games will be named at Saturday’s meeting.