Yakeb needs RM3 mln a year

KOTA BHARU: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation ( Yakeb) needs RM3 million a year to look after the welfare of former national athletes, especially those who are ill.

This was revealed by its general manager Zuhairi Abdul Manaf.

“However, even though we are facing problems of funds, the foundation is still functioning and we continue to give services to former athletes, simultaneously refuting the opinions of some parties that the foundation is inactive,” he said when visiting former state football player Awang Essa, 72, who had been ill since Sept at his home in Telipot recently.

Awang, who was also a former national goalkeeper in 1969, has a spinal cord problem, rendering him bed-ridden. Zuhairi said that until now the management and board members had not stopped seeking funds to cover the welfare of almost 3,000 registered foundation members.“Before this we were assisted by the Ministry of Finance of RM2 million to RM3 million a year but it is not periodically.“Last October, the Ministry of Youth and Sports ( KBS) also channelled RM250,000 to mobilise the foundation’s funds especially under the Yakeb Scheme which has 11 benefits for registered members, including hospital financing, health support equipment requirements and so on. “Next year, we are planning to create the National Sports Hero Fund to enable anyone, including the corporate sector or the public, to channel donations,” he said. — Bernama