Let’s be fair to all

Government should not forget athletes from golden era

KUALA LUMPUR: Please be fair to former national athletes.

This is the plea of former sprint queen Datuk M. Rajamani as she feels that athletes from the golden era are a forgotten lot while the government keep pouring too much of financial assistance to the current crop.

“I’m not saying that we should not reward athletes but what about those from the 60s, 70s and 80s,” said Rajamani.

The 75-year-old, who was the first Malaysian to win the National Sportswoman award in 1966 for breaking four records in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 4x100m in the 1965 Kuala Lumpur SEAP Games, said equal treatment should be given to all.

“The ex-athletes too have sacri- ficed their studies and put their careers on the line to deliver medals for the country,” she added.

On Wednesday, the National Sports Council (NSC) announced a new incentive package for the current national athletes.

Besides enjoying the best facilities, they are given monthly allowances for winning medals in multi-sport Games and pension for medallists in the Olympics.

“I’m okay because I receive a pension and so does my husband but what about the others,” said the former school teacher.

“These athletes don’t get a sen of incentive from the government.

“Some former athletes are not financially stable and they still have to work to survive in their old age.

“Some of them are ill and they don’t get any form of pension to survive,” said Rajamani, who fea- tured in the 400m in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

The 1966 Asian Games 400m gold medallist recalled when times were tough during her time.

“I only received laundry allowance between RM64 or RM68 when I went to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 – that’s all, there was no monthly allowance,” she said.

“I also remember when the Malaysian Athletics Association were rewarded RM5,000 for my achievement in winning the gold in the Asian Games in 1966 but I never benefited a single sen from it.

“I really don’t know what happened to the money and how it was used by the association.”

She acknowledged that the government initiated the setting up of National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) years ago but it did not get the support it deserved.

“Yakeb requested RM2mil from the government to support those who needed medical assistance but sad to say that they did not receive a single sen. Yakeb coffers have dried up,” said Rajamani.

“What are the government doing to help these ex-athletes who have featured in the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics all those years?

“It is really frustrating that our sacrifices are not appreciated.

“I hope former athletes will be accorded privileges as they have contributed so much for the nation.”

Rajamani’s athletics career may have ended after she was struck by lightning while training in preparation for the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games – but it has not doused the fire and the will in her to fight for the welfare of the former athletes.