KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) remains committed to supporting the development of national sports talent, including motorsports, in line with the goal of producing high-performance athletes capable of competing on the world stage, says Youth and Sports Minister, Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
However, Dr Taufiq said that a policy decision made last year stipulated that for 2026, applications for the National Sports Trust Fund (KWASN) will prioritise sports contested in major games.
The Games include the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Asian and Para Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, as well as the SEA and Para ASEAN Games, based on the lists provided by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) covering 58 sports and the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC).
“This decision was made after taking into account the major sporting events the national contingent will face this year and next, namely the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland this August.
“The Asian Games in Doha from September to October, the Para Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan in October, and the SEA Games in September 2027, which Malaysia will host,” he said in a statement on Friday night.
He stated that his ministry and the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will continue to discuss with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to examine the possibility of providing suitable support mechanisms to ensure the continuity of development for the country’s high-potential athletes, including those in motorsports.
Dr Taufiq understands that the achievements of national athletes on the world stage, including in sports not contested in the aforementioned major games, still have a significant impact on the nation’s image.
“The success and journey of national rider, Hakim Danish, is a symbol of hope and inspiration for the younger generation of Malaysia. He proves that with discipline, courage and the right support, our youth are capable of competing with the best riders in the world,” he said.
He added that KBS remains committed to working closely with all parties, including the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), government agencies, industry partners, and corporate sponsors to strengthen national sports development for the future of Malaysian athletes.
Earlier, the statement noted that KBS, through the KWASN fund, had channeled a total of RM3 million to SIC to implement the High-Performance Motorsports Development 2025 Programme.
The allocation covers three main development programmes for young national riders: the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for Hakim Danish (RM1.159 million), ESBK Moto3 Talent for Qabil Irfan (RM1.3 million), and the Asia Talent Cup for Sharf Muhriz and Adam Danial (RM540,000).
KBS stated that the fund was to cover tournament participation costs, team operations, training and rider development needs throughout the 2025 season.
In addition, to strengthen the career development path of Hakim Danish, KBS also approved an additional allocation of RM1 million through KWASN for his participation in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship 2025, one of the primary development platforms for young riders before moving up to the MotoGP World Championship.
KBS informed that the support provided is in line with the KBS’ long-term development plan through the Motorsports Development Blueprint (MDEV), which serves as a guide for the direction of local talent development from the grassroots level up to world championships like MotoGP.
Last Wednesday (March 4), ZK Racing Team Manager, Zulfahmi Khairudin, noted that motorsports require allocations from KBS to benefit the nation’s highly talented riders, such as Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli and Qabil Irfan Azlan, so they can compete excellently at the international level. -BERNAMA
