RM145mil enough for M'sia to emerge 2017 Sea Games champions - Khairy

The RM145 million allocation for preparing athletes to the 2017 SEA Games and the Para ASEAN Games in Kuala Lumpur is enough for Malaysia to emerge champions, according to Youth and Sports Minister Jamaluddin.

Khairy said he would ensure that the RM145 million allocation and the RM75 million allocation for the Podium Programme would be used wisely.

"We will do the best and cannot use lack of allocation as reason for not winning both the games," he told reporters after closing the 'Johor Mahir' programme organised by Johor UMNO Youth, here yesterday.

Tabling 2016 Budget in Parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Youth and Sports Ministry was allocated RM222 million, of which RM145 million was to prepare athletes for the 2017 SEA Games and the Para ASEAN Games.

Another RM75 million was allocated for the Podium Programme while RM22 million was allocated for the construction of two sports complex, in Bagan Datoh (Perak) and Kuantan (Pahang).

The 2017 SEA Games and the Para ASEAN Games will be hosted by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 19 to 31.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) today signed an agreement with state government agency Skills Johor to set up a vocational and technical training centre in 2017.

Khairy said it is expected to train 20,000 youths in areas such as logistics, health, tourism, oil and gas and other sectors needed by Johor.

Establishment of the vocational and technical training centre is in line with the urgent need to produce 225,000 vocational and technical students by 2020.