MALAYSIAN athletes are being neglected by the authorities with the recent termination of contracts as well as low remuneration, sports veterans said.

They said despite the efforts of these athletes to win medals for the country, their welfare has been neglected.

Sieh Kok Chi, the former secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Malaysia said the biggest problems faced by athletes is the poor pay.

“The government does not have a salary system in place as it does for doctors, engineers and other professionals,” Sieh told The Malaysian Insight.

National hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian revealed earlier this month that athletes’ allowances have been reduced from RM2,000 a month to RM800.

Rayzam won gold for Malaysia in the 110m hurdles at the SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 and a silver medal in 2017 when the games were held in Malaysia.

Previously, a gold medal in the SEA Games would get an athlete a stipend of RM2,000, while silver and bronze medal winners were entitled to RM800.

Sieh said now that the allowance has been slashed, athletes are better off working at fast food outlets.

Sieh, a former water polo player who represented Malaysia at the SEA Games in Brunei in 1999, said there is no glory in sports without athletes.

“Without athletes, we will not have medals or glory.”

Instead of keeping so many officials as part of the National Sports Council (NSC), Sieh is of the view that they should be laid off.

“The money should be channelled back to the athletes.”

In early January, it was announced that 144 national athletes, including those who have made history for Malaysia in highest level competitions, have been cut off by the NSC due to lack of funding.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu announced in December that the NSC has decided to reduce its number of full-time athletes from 432 to 288 in 2022.

Tang Kwai Mae, the secretary-general of Malaysia Swimming, asked how athletes are supposed to survive on so little.

“Their allowance has been cut by 60%, how are they supposed to survive? They don’t have a contract and on top of that their allowances have been slashed. This is affecting their spirit and they are less motivated.”

To develop new talent, Malaysia Swimming also recruited new swimmers in 2018 and 2019, he said.

“We have been trying to develop the future of Malaysia swimming, but now the athletes feel abandoned.

“There are three major sports competitions this year, without the athletes, we are nothing.”

No financial stability

Diving champion Cheong Jun Hoong said as athletes are not considered full-time employed, it is very difficult for them to get financial aid.

“It is very difficult for athletes to get loans to buy houses or cars. We need to show a lot of documents including a certificate of employment by the NSC for loan applications.

“The allowance in the NSC contract is not considered as salary. To make matters worse, their contract is only for one year.

“Even if our loan is approved, it won’t be much, maybe only 80% instead of 90%, so we are required to put down a larger down payment.”

In response to Rayzam’s allowance being cut, Cheong said it was unfair because as a part-time athlete, he is not entitled to housing and meals.

She added that allowances are also tied to an athlete’s performance.

“At the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil, having won silver for the 10m diving, my allowance was between RM7,000 and RM7,500.

“It’s not easy to be an athlete. We are at our peak for 10 years, these sports are exhausting and we barely make money.”

Olympic gold medallists receive allowances of RM7,500 while silver medallists get RM7,000 and bronze RM6,500.

For Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, gold medallists receive RM4,500, silver RM4,000 and bronze RM3,500.

National shuttler Lee Zii Jia made headlines this week after tendering his resignation from the Badminton Association of Malaysia.

It is rumoured that he quit due to tremendous pressure. It was reported that the world number seven player was joining Kuala Lumpur Racket Club for a seven-figure contract.

Abandoned after retirement

Recently, Paralympic swimmer Koh Lee Peng was in the limelight as she was spotted selling tissue covers on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Her case highlighted the abandonment faced by athletes once they retire.

Koh who won seven gold medals and three silver medals at the Paralympic Games from 2001 to 2005 said she has been hurled insults while selling her goods, but she is used to it.

“If sales are good, I can make up to RM400 a day. On a bad day, it could be just RM10, but I still have to pay rent and other costs.”

Since her case was highlighted, Koh said many have approached her, even asking for her account number to make donations. – January 23, 2022.