KUALA LUMPUR — The government made the right call by putting the National Sports Council (NSC) in charge of overseeing and disbursing funds for national sports associations (NSAs), said sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli.
The local sports observer’s comments follow concerns within the sports fraternity about the necessity for NSC’s control over allocations negotiated directly between the NSAs and the Finance Ministry (MoF).
Previously, Scoop reported that Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin questioned why RM15 million allocated for para-athlete development is being routed through the NSC and the National Youth and Sports Department (JBSN) instead of going directly to the PCM.
He said that, unlike the fully independent Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), the PCM is still subject to NSC oversight.
It was also reported that the NSC will deliberate with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on the best way to utilise the RM15 million allocated for football development under Budget 2025.
Speaking to Scoop, Pekan explained that routing funds through the NSC ensures proper use and prevents misuse.
“The government’s financial procedures require that funds cannot be channelled directly to individuals or NGOs without going through the NSC first. This ensures compliance with government financial regulations and guidelines.
“The distribution of allocations through the NSC to sports bodies is to ensure the money is spent correctly and not misused.
“This method, with a little buffer, is not rigid but ensures that integrity and accountability are prioritised in controlling the expenditure of the allocated funds.
“While NGOs and corporations can negotiate directly with the MoF, sports bodies seeking government support should first submit their requests through and gain support from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to avoid bypassing the system,” Pekan explained when contacted.
Another local sports analyst, Sadek Mustaffa meanwhile said that some NSA leaders need to improve their approach when dealing directly with the MoF to secure more funding.
“Certain NSAs shouldn’t be upset if others receive additional allocations; it comes down to who requests the money and how they do it. NSAs that secured extra funding likely had better paperwork.
“It’s time for all NSAs to create a compelling blueprint to impress the MoF for more funding. Instead of complaining, they should learn how to manage their funding requests more effectively,” said Sadek.
In the recently tabled Budget 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced over RM230 million for sports development, including podium programs, the Road to Gold initiative, and preparations for para-athletes competing in international events like the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo. — October 23, 2024