MCA Youth urges Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to prioritise allocating adequate support to our national athletes, ensuring that their physical and emotional needs for sports especially during international sporting tournaments take precedence above those of Ministers or council office bearers or their family members. Accountability and transparency are crucial in this process.

Although Olympic Council Malaysia (OCM) President Tan Sri Norza Zakaria says the accreditation cards don’t involve government funds, athlete quotas and support must be prioritised above ministers and guests. Fair and transparent allocation is crucial, and an investigation into the OCM chief’s ‘personal quota’ is needed. Hannah Yeoh should address this issue, ensure passes are made available for coaches and team personnel, and implement a proposal for fair support at future events.

Guided by Pakatan’s  CAT motto of competency, accountability and transparency, Hannah should reveal the names and number of officials from OCM, the other sports association which dispatched athletes and representatives to #Paris2024 and from her Ministry who were allocated special passes or accreditation cards.

Additionally, their guest lists who flew to #Paris2024 should be disclosed too. This will assuage public disappointment on Norza’s discretionary authority on sports quota allocation for his family, as well as fulfil the aspirations towards the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act as already mooted by Pakatan.

Furthermore, Hannah Yeoh’s recent statement, "I will leave all the details of financial rewards and support for another day," regarding Lee Zii Jia’s bronze medal win, is not the right approach. To truly support our athletes, pre-emptive action is essential.

Addressing their needs in advance is crucial for building their confidence and ensuring proper support. Relying on cash rewards as motivation is ineffective if athletes do not feel adequately supported beforehand. This "celebrate first" mindset could negatively impact morale if support is lacking from the start.

Funds, related allocations, and poor planning have been major issues this Olympic season, as evidenced by Paralympic athlete Zy Lee Kher’s exclusion, Goh Jin Wei competing without her coach Nova Armada, and Lee Zii Jia lacking his physiotherapist, coach and sparring partner. A serious mindset shift is needed to ensure proper support for Malaysia’s athletes and to investigate whether misplaced priorities are affecting their preparation and success.

Neow Choo Seong
MCA Youth Information Chief

7 August 2024

-MCA Comm-