KUALA LUMPUR: Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli is hoping the Youth and Sports Ministry's decision to provide national athletes under the Podium Programme better compensation will spur them to achieve greater heights.
The ministry announced on Thursday that they will convert the allowances athletes previously received into salaries which come with Socso and EPF contributions. Athletes will begin signing new contracts next week which will be backdated to Jan 1.
The amount they will receive is also being increased across the board. For example, Sea Games bronze medallists who previously received RM1,000 in monthly allowances will now receive a RM1,700 salary.
Pekan said athletes deserved the better compensation but reminded them not to take it for granted.
"I think this is definitely a positive move by the government," said Pekan when contacted yesterday.
"The athletes deserve to be compensated according to their level of ability.
"I hope this will give them an added boost of motivation to strive for more.
"They must understand that they are in the programme to achieve results and will not be kept there forever if they do not perform well."
Pekan suggests that each athlete be given an annual key performance indicator (KPI) while intake into the programme must also be made transparent.
"I believe each athlete, regardless of level, needs to be given a KPI, especially as this programme is funded by taxpayers money," said Pekan.
"Even government servants have to achieve yearly KPIs.
"I know this is not a popular thing to say but as I have said before, athletes need to learn how to handle pressure and expectations.
"Intake into the programme must also be made more transparent in terms of selection criteria, especially for athletes who have yet to win any major medals.
"For those who have already won medals at the Sea Games, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, their case for inclusion is much more clear cut."
When announcing the new compensation scheme, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh disclosed that the move will have a financial impact of RM16 million annually on the National Sports Council.