KUALA LUMPUR: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) is hoping that the ministry of Youth and Sports will identify a piece of land in the Klang Valley to build its own building (Wisma YAKEB) and a budget hotel.

YAKEB president Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed said building Wisma YAKEB in the klang valley would be ideal because 1,500 of its 2,905 members reside in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

"Its up to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) to determine the suitable location. YAKEB feels two or three acres will be enough to build Wisma YAKEB.

"I am hoping for a five-storey building which will also have a budget hotel," he told reporters at YAKEB's 7th Annual General Meeting which was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, here today.

Noorul Ariffin said having a hotel within Wisma YAKEB would offer job opportunities for athletes once they retire from national duty as well as provide the foundation a steady source of income.


"We cannot continue to depend on the government for funds. We must ensure that YAKEB has a source of income," he said.

In his speech while opening YAKEB's AGM, Ismail Sabri had directed Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu to identify an empty plot of land that belongs to the ministry, for the purpose of building Wisma YAKEB.

The prime minister said having a building of its own, the foundation can continue its process of organising various programmes and courses in a condusive place which has its own facilities.

Meanwhile, Noorul Ariffin also thanked the government for providing an allocation of RM3 million to YAKEB this year as well as last year, to carry out various programmes that involve the welfare of athletes.

-- BERNAMA