Increased bounty for Asian and Commonwealth Games medallists

KUALA LUMPUR: It pays to achieve excellence in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games after this.

The monthly allowance scheme for Olympic medallists will remain at RM7,500 for a gold, RM7,000 for a silver and RM6,500 for a bronze.

However, there will be an increase of RM500 for the medal winners at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games effective next year.

A gold medallist at the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games will get a monthly allowance of RM4,000. The silver medallist will draw RM3,500 while a bronze nets the athlete RM3,000.

An athlete who wins gold at a world championships can look forward to RM3,500 while the silver and bronze will get RM3,000 and RM2,500 respectively.

The monthly allowance for an athlete who wins at the SEA Games remains as follows: RM2,000 for gold, RM1,500 for silver and RM1,000 for bronze.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the new monthly allowance scheme was agreed during the National Sports Council management board meeting yesterday and he reminded the national athletes to not take things for granted.

“It will be a revolving system as they have to prove their worth in the targeted meets identified by the respective sports associations,” he said.

“We will have a review every six months for the athletes who are drawing monthly allowances.

“For example, if you have won at the Commonwealth or Asian Games, you have to maintain your results at the next Commonwealth or Asian Games,” he added.

The monthly allowance for new athletes remains at RM800.

Syed Saddiq added that the welfare of current and former national athletes would not be neglected.

The National Sports Council yesterday also signed a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

Under the collaboration, national athletes will have a chance to pursue higher studies while still be involved in sports.

“They will have the flexibility to pursue a degree with scholarship offers. This is also open to former national athletes as we will not forget their welfare. We want parents to know there is a future for their children even if they focus on sports,” he added.