Sarawak Cabinet will discuss awarding state honours to Paralympians Bonnie, Yee Khie - Abdul Karim

The awarding of state honours to two national paralympic heroes from Sarawak, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and Jong Yee Khie, will be discussed in the state cabinet meeting, said Sarawak Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said the Cabinet would also discuss other rewards for the duo including incentives from the state government which are usually half of the total incentives paid by the federal government.

"I support awarding of state honours to them because they have brought glory for the state and the country on the world stage. There is a committee that will suggest what medals and awards should be given to them," he said through a video on his Facebook account.

He said that what is important is that the two athletes be given appropriate rewards which can help them for life such as the provision of pensions by the federal government to national athletes who managed to bring home gold, silver and bronze medals from the Olympic Games.

Bonnie won the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the 72 kilogramme (kg) powerlifting event while Yee Khie won the silver medal in powerlifting in the 107kg category.

SARAWAK-PARALYMPIANS 2 (HONOURS) KUCHING

Abdul Karim said the federal government paid pensions to national athletes who won Olympic medals, namely RM5,000 a month to gold medallists, RM3,000 for silver medals and RM1,500 for bronze medals.

"I believe national diving champion Pandelela Rinong (also from Sarawak) now enjoys a pension of RM3,000 following her success in winning a silver medal at the Rio Olympics previously," he said.

Meanwhile, he urged the private sector to also extend incentives to Bonnie and Yee Khie in appreciation of their sacrifices for the country.

-- BERNAMA