PUTRAJAYA, October 9 – Alhamdulillah, thanks be to Allah SWT who has allowed us to gather physically and virtually in the new norm this morning, to celebrate National Sports Day 2021, with the theme ‘Towards Sporting Nation.’ Since the National Sports Day was celebrated in 2015, the country has placed the status of sports and leisure activities as a national agenda in producing healthy, active and fit Malaysian families.
This year’s National Sports Day celebration is celebrated meaningfully, after a year we cannot celebrate it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s celebration, which took place in a hybrid and virtual manner, aims to celebrate all our efforts and successes in cultivating sports and leisure, as outlined in the National Sports Policy 2009. As an individual who has held the portfolio of Minister of Youth and Sports, I understand that such a response requires high commitment from all parties.
In this regard, I would like to express my congratulations to the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports, Dato ‘Seri Ahmad Faizal Dato’ Azumu and the entire family of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (or KBS), various government and private agencies who have worked to ensure today’s event celebrated simultaneously across the country. The government is well aware that the entire sports ecosystem has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports activities that are part of social activities cannot be done independently. Most worrying is its impact on the sports industry.
I understand that, from 1 January to 31 December 2020, a total of 1,968 sports -related businesses had to cease operations due to lack of working capital, inability to cover operating costs and so on. Most of them are promoters and organizers of sports events, retail businesses of sporting goods, fitness centers and sports instructors. In line with the government’s principle of ensuring ‘no people are left behind or marginalized’, all concerns and worries felt by sports sector activists continue to be given attention by the government.
To assist the affected sports industry players, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (or KBS), on 5 July 2021 has announced several Youth and Sports Concern Initiatives (or IPBS) specifically for sports industry players in Malaysia affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These initiatives have been created as part of KBS’s efforts, in adding value and supporting the implementation of the People’s Protection and Economic Recovery Package (or PEMULIH).
The Standard Operating Procedures (or SOPs) for the Sports and Recreation Sector enacted in the National Rehabilitation Plan (or VAT), are an initial initiative to ensure that the activities of this sector can resume operations. Success after success as evidenced through the implementation of VAT, finally led to the reopening of sports and recreational activities on 9 September. Since then, sports activities have returned to vigor with the Malaysian Family’s adherence to strict SOPs.
I was informed that within a month since the permission was given, the number of participants in sports activities had already exceeded 1.4 million participants. The participation involves thousands of rewarding activities, including motor sports and extreme sports. Therefore, the government together with KBS is confident that all the activities implemented in a hybrid manner, will be joined by more Malaysian Family members by the end of this year.
I am pleased to share the latest effort of the government and KBS, the Launch of the Women in Sports Action Plan, this morning which is a comprehensive document that outlines the objectives, strategies and initiatives planned towards empowering women’s involvement and participation in various sports towards making national sports development. which is more inclusive and balanced. This action plan is in line with the National Sports Policy and the Sports Development Act 1997 as well as international policies and legislation such as the Olympic Charter, Olympic Agenda 2020, Kazan Action Plan and The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (or CEDAW ).
The Government has allocated a total of 10 million ringgit for the successful implementation of the Women in Sports Action Plan which contains 5 thrusts, 8 objectives, 19 strategies and 45 initiatives. Following that, the Women in Sports Committee was established to plan and monitor the implementation of this action plan. The committee is comprised of 15 reference experts comprising representatives of ministries, sports bodies, former athletes and experienced individuals.
The Women in Sports Action Plan is aimed at increasing the overall involvement of women in sports activities, leadership in sports bodies and participation in sports coaching and clerical work. At the same time, realizing the importance of developing sports talents to produce champions in international sports events, today, we also launched the Talent Identification and Development Program called MyTID KPM-KBS Program through cross-ministry collaboration between KBS and the Ministry. Malaysian Education (or MOE).
The MyTID KPM-KBS program is estimated to involve a total of 500 trained testing teachers (known as Talent Eagle) as well as a target participation of 60,000 students from primary schools (Years 1-6) involving all District Education Offices by zone. This program is expected to help expand the participation of new talents (talent pool) as early as the age of 7 years who have the potential at the grassroots level to be identified earlier and reduce the risk of talent dropout.
Recognizing the importance of sports as one of the contributors to the national economy, KBS is also formulating a National Sports Industry Action Plan. This comprehensive and competitive plan aims to make sports a new source in generating economic growth in the country, in line with developments at the global level. This plan should be formed after taking into account the analysis based on world economic data which shows that the global market value of sports is approaching 388.3 billion US dollars in 2020 and is expected to continue positively grew and reached 599.0 billion US dollars in 2025.
Data obtained from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (or MITI) in 2020 showed that 32.7 million Malaysians had spent 430 million ringgit on sports and leisure. Overall, the WomenInSports Action Plan, Talent Identification and Development Program and the National Sports Industry Action Plan are part of the sports planning and development direction that is being formed by KBS through the National Sports Vision 2030.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have made a very proud impact on the country. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, for example, we won bronze and silver medals. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, a total of five medals were won, three of which were gold medals. Therefore, today, let us pay tribute to those who have given their devotion and service to the country, namely:
a. Dato ’Mohd Azizulhasni Awang b. Aaron Chia
c. Soh Wooi Yik
d. Bonnie Bunyau Anak Gustin
e. Cheah Liek Hou
f. Abdul Latif Romly
g. Chew Wei Lun
h. Jong Yee Khie
This achievement is the result of the principle of togetherness of all parties, especially the athletes and coaches respectively. As the rest of the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic, they are training in a bitter situation, in order to raise the name of the country. We need to see this seriousness in every athlete, including those who come home without carrying any medals. Finally, let us make sports and leisure a new norm, as a daily practice of healthy, active and fit Malaysian families. InsyaAllah more permissions appropriate to health factors will be given in the future. Therefore, throughout the period of sports and recreation, continue to adhere to the SOP set, for the sake of life and health of the entire Malaysian Family. Happy sports and happy recreation.
