As important the kem bakat was/ is for the government to develop athletes, the private individual/ household side of the development pyramid should also be equally encouraged.
With higher disposable income today, almost 8 million households, higher number available sporting facilities, and the higher number of former athletes and coaches, the private individual/ household side of sport development should be tapped upon and align into any sport development programmes.
The proliferation of football, badminton, cricket, rugby, swimming, basketball and academies from numerous other sport nationwide are there for the taking.
Fortunately, this is what our current Minister YB Hannah Yeoh has quickly discerned and acted upon. In less than a year and 2 budget cycles, YB Hannah Yeoh has been instrumental in the introduction of a number of ground breaking initiatives that will channel private/ household spending into grassroots sports. These game changing policies will also help grow the sport industry exponentially.
For the 2023 Budget, there was the matching grant for qualifying sport events and tax relief for companies/ individuals who contribute towards sport.
For the current 2024 budget, there is also the additional introduction of tax deductions for contributions by individuals/ companies to fund students studying sport subjects at academic institutions. Creating more “thinking athletes”.
But the real game changer has to be the personal income tax relief of up to RM1,000 for household spend on sport, including personal training or coaching.
This will potentially make available, up to RM7.9 billion annually for all types of sport coaching, equipment, apparel, academies. etc. It is the precursor to a healthy club system at the grassroots level upwards. (based on 7.9m households nationwide)
There is nothing like the efficiency in spending and development coming from the private sector. Every RM spent will ensure a better return!
The exponential growth and economic opportunities coming out of this will be immense and far reaching.
It will also take away a heavy burden from the likes of YAKEB as former athletes will be in demand to offer training/ coaching services to children and parents Nationwide.
It will complement the Education and Sports Ministries as private funding is being encouraged to train our children. The talent pool available will increase naturally. Less burden on the government in terms of allocating funds, resources and programmes at the grassroots.
Sport has been liberalised. Accessibility to sport has been activated. #MerakyatkanSukan has been activated. The #SportsIndustry will grow further.
A kem bakat or similar initiative is worth looking at again no doubt. But YB Hannah Yeoh has gone one step further by simultaneously spurring a higher level of sport development via private funding as well as lessening the financial/ resource burden on the Government. This is her masterstroke.
YB Hannah Yeoh has unlocked the funds from the private/ household sector and spurred a more #ActiveNation.
