KUALA LUMPUR: ‘It's not easy but we have to do it’.
That was Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's pledge to save the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) and at the same time reduce the burden on the National Sports Council (NSC).
Syed Saddiq said the NFDP is a good programme which involves tens of thousands of players. However, for it to continue, it will require changes based on the funding available.
"This is an issue which needs to be addressed. As soon as I became minister, I met a number of parties and asked them to help NFDP," said Syed Saddiq at a corporate sponsorship event for the Asia Para Games contingent in Kuala Lumpur today.
The minister added that he will hold a dialogue with Malaysian football fans and various stakeholders to discuss how to save NFDP.
"Football fans are very important and they are the reason why the sport has lasted. The dialogue will be attended by representatives from the FA of Malaysia, National Sports Council, NFDP and myself.
"I want to get their (hardcore fans) views and at the same time explain the current situation we are in. This is to allow us to move forward."
Syed Saddiq declined to respond to questions on whether Lim Teong Kim would be replaced by a foreigner. He said any decision made would be based on the finances available.
Syed Saddiq disclosed that the previous government had promised NFDP 20 million ringgit annually.
"However, NFDP had only received RM10 million (2014), RM7 million (2015), RM3.5 million (2016) and RM3.5 million (2017)."