KUALA LUMPUR: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will allocate RM10 million next year for the Para Podium programme, covering athlete assistance, preparation, and participation in domestic and international competitions.
Minister Hannah Yeoh said the allocation will support para athletes competing in 36 international events and 34 domestic competitions next year under the ministry’s high-performance sports programme.
She noted a significant rise in para athlete participation, including at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), highlighting Sarawak as a state actively investing in para sports.
“Based on SUKMA 2024 records in Sarawak, 1,265 para athletes competed nationwide, with the host contingent registering the highest at 213 athletes. Comparing SUKMA 2022 and 2024, we recorded a 64% increase in para athlete participation,” she said during a Dewan Negara Q&A session.
She was responding to Senator Isaiah Jacob, who asked about allocations for the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) community in 2026.
Hannah added that since last year, the National Sports Council has fully managed para athlete preparation, taking over from state Departments for the Development of Persons with Disabilities and sports councils.
She explained the move was necessary because high-performance para athletes require training approaches comparable to international sports, while the Departments can focus on promoting sports as part of well-being and an active lifestyle for the PwD community. – BERNAMA
