KUANTAN: The Pahang government has started working hand-in-hand with government agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs) to provide employment opportunities for former state athletes.
State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the move was to ensure that the welfare of the athletes were safeguarded and they have a clear career pathway.
"The Pahang government is creating the space and opportunity to provide jobs to former athletes who have made huge sacrifices to excel in sports. We have established ties with several state government agencies and GLCs.
"The Pahang Public Service Commission, Kuantan City Council and the Pahang State Agricultural Development have created special employment opportunities for former athletes. Similar corporations will be developed with the state GLCs and other corporate bodies," he said in his winding up speech when debating the motion of support on the state budget bill at the state assembly sitting here today.
Citing an example, Fadzli said 18 former athletes had secured jobs and were hired as administrative staff with the Pahang Sports Council.
Meanwhile, Fadzli said some of the former state athletes had also been provided the platform to share their experiences and become professional coaches across the state.
"We have 59 former athletes hired as coaches with 25 appointed on a full-time basis while 34 working part-time. All former athletes are provided proper guidance including sports science courses and specific training to ensure they become excellent coaches," he said.
Meanwhile, Fadzli said memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with several higher learning institutions here to help strike a balance between the athletes sporting responsibilities and academic demands.
"The MoUs are to allow them to continue their studies at universities in various fields or obtain a set of skills to gain employment in the future. Academic excellence will help them to ensure job security.
"MoUs have been signed with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah; Universiti Teknologi Mara in Jengka, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah and Muadzam Shah Polytechnic, Mara Poly-Tech College and community colleges," he said.