Building Sabah's Sporting Prowess

By Elaine Mah
Pictures by Oliver Majaham

The State Ministry of Youth and Sports looks at results when it gives allocations to sports associations, according to Suzannah Liaw, the Ministry's permanent secretary.

Focusing on swimming she said Sabah's swimming performance in SUKMA showed that there was a large talent pool in Sabah waiting to be developed.

Overall, swimming has received one of the highest funding, according to Liaw. This is one sport that has many coaches - 5 altogether - that are supported by the state government. She said it is the job of these coaches to develop a workable program to tap into this talent pool of swimmers in various districts.

Speaking to an Insight Sabah reporter Liaw disclosed that the RM15.45 million allocated for sports this year has been one the highest ever provided. Out of this sum, the Ministry has allocated RM1.4 million to some 37 sports associations under its purview. Each association is given an amount ranging between 10,000 - 100,000 depending on its needs and performance.

"Where we see results, that's where we are going to give. Of course at the same time we do not neglect other sports that we wish to see developed, " she said.SUKMA provides much of Sabah's benchmark for sports. In terms of incentives, the Ministry has increased the prize money for a gold medal in SUKMA from RM2000 to RM3000. A Silver medalist receives RM200, and Bronze medalist receives RM 100. Additionally, State athletes are paid allowances when they train for SUKMA. Gold medalists are paid RM300 per month during preparation for SUKMA. The monthly allowances normally begin approximately one year before SUKMA. The Ministry also supports athletes who live far from the designated training facilities by giving them transportation allowances.

Overall, according to the Permanent Secretary, swimming has received one of the highest funding to carry out the development programs for swimmers, and swimmers' participation in various competitions.

However, when interviewed, state coach Lim Keng Liat said that the allocations were not adequate and that the lack of funds has hampered the development of swimming in the state. He said the incentives that the state government provides every two years during SUKMA are among the lowest compared to other states in Malaysia.

According to Lim, states like Sarawak and Selangor have already commenced planning for 2014 and 2016 SUKMA programs and have given out allowances to their top swimmers to motivate them further. He said so far Sabah has yet to do the same. Government funding according to Lim is the way to go if we want the sport to progress. If the state wants the swimmers to do well, "they have to begin to invest more", said Lim.

Liaw, on the other hand, argued that swimming should not be for money. "It should be because you love to swim and want to swim. That is the vision that an athlete should have," she said.

Incentives aside, Liaw said that sports should be a passion. "Swimming should not be for money. They should be swimming because they love to swim and want to swim. That is the vision that an athlete should have," Liaw said. She concedes, however, that there are problems that impede the development of competitive sports. The problem for Sabah according to Liaw is logistics. Most competitions are held in Peninsular Malaysia. Each time the association sends swimmers to competitions, it would cost a lot of money. Therefore, a big chunk of funding goes to transportation and airfare. In terms of grooming athletes as future Olympian, the Ministry looks to schools as the primary feeder for athletes. Liaw said her Ministry is in talks with the department of Education to look for potential athletes and train them from the primary school level.

A national sports school, the third one in Malaysia, has already been built in Sepanggar and is expected to be fully operational by next year. Costing approximately RM70 million the training centre's primary focus will be the development of water sports in Sabah. - Insight Sabah