Chong: Education Ministry studying most suitable incentive for students, teachers

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the Education Ministry was studying the type of incentive to be awarded to students and teachers who had represented the country and won medals in the 29th Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Chong said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had on Aug 8, said discussions were being held by the Sports Division on the most suitable rewards to be handed out.

"There will definitely be incentives for them, only the method and means of handing them out will be relayed later," Mahdzir had said.

The minister had said the education ministry would offer special incentives to 134 students and five teacher-athletes if they won medals at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017).

"Right now we are looking at the type of incentive and an announcement would be made by the minister soon," he told Bernama after attending a Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration with villagers from Masjid Kariah Kampung Dacing and Masjid Kariah Taman Panchor Jaya at Masjid Kariah Taman Panchor Jaya, here today.

Of the 134 student athletes, 67 are from Sekolah Sukan Malaysia, day schools (47 students), private schools (16), vocational colleges (three) and one from Maktab Rendah Sains Mara.

Among the student athletes and representatives from teaching staff taking part are women's national badminton player Goh Jin Wei, Grace Wong (hammer throw), sprinters Khairil Hafiz Jantan and Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap; Sukri Mutalib (hockey team captain), Puah Pei San (netball) and Ahmad Faiz Noor (cricket).

The nation is very proud and grateful for all the students and teacher-athletes' dedication in sports and commitment to bringing glory to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) Director-General Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail had said the SEA Games was the first platform for young athletes to prove their capability and earn their ticket to bigger challenges at the international stage.Participating in the SEA Games has always been a base for athletes to be selected for bigger competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

In the 2017 SEA Games, the Malaysian contingent comprised 445 athletes who had made their debut and from the 844-member contingent, 261 were below the age of 21.

-- BERNAMA