KUALA LUMPUR: After handing out RM2.8 million to 103 national athletes yesterday, Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said coaches should be rewarded too.
Yeoh is now looking at changing the Malaysian sports ecosystem, leading to coaches behind successful athletes getting recognised and rewarded financially for their hard work and contributions.
Yeoh said this after the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam) ceremony at a hotel in Subang Jaya yesterday.
Squash player S. Sivasangari and para-swimmer Nur Syaiful Zulkafli received the most.
Sivasangari, who won two Asian Games gold, pocketed RM100,000 while Syaiful took home RM110,000 for winning one gold, one bronze and setting a record at the Asian Para Games.
"We had just presented Shakam totaling RM2.8 million to 66 athletes from the Asian Games and 37 from the Asian Para Games.
"This reward is a show of appreciation from the government to those who worked hard to win medals for the nation.
"We are looking at a change in the ecosystem because if we want to bring about a reward for the athletes. then the coaches should also be rewarded.
"The amount has to be revised so, it's a token for coaches to thank them for their hard work, because athletes and coaches have to work together to win."
Yeoh said the ministry and its partner, Nippon Sports Science University, have found that athletes' mental health is dependant on their coaches, which is why the latter can be a catalyst for good or bad performances.
Yeoh said the ministry is looking at getting athletes under the Podium Programme to come under the Employees Provident Fund and Social Security Organisation.
"Studies are also being done for coaches' scheme. Our objective is that the salaries paid to the coaches will be competitive compared to neighbouring countries.
"If not, we would lose them. Malaysian coaches would go abroad to teach athletes who would go on to compete against Malaysian athletes and win."