DEPUTY Youth and Sports Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong never thought he would spend his first month in the cabinet living like an athlete at the National Sports Council (NSC) hostel in Bukit Jalil.

But it was an experience he is grateful for, giving him a glimpse of the challenges that national athletes face, outside sports.

After he was appointed as deputy minister, the two-term Bukit Mertajam MP from Penang had little time to find lodgings in Kuala Lumpur, where he is now based.

The government had a bungalow for him, but it needed to be renovated and furnished, costing RM100,000.

“I thought about the government house, but I decided that I could just rent a place. We had to hit the ground running, so there was hardly time.

“So, I thought about the NSC hostel. We should be close to NSC and the athletes. So, I moved into the hostel, where athletes stay when they go to Bukit Jalil for training,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Sim had a “memorable” first day, when the hostel’s taps ran dry.

“It was a hiccup I am glad I experienced. Such little things affect our athletes. They told us the water problem happens every now and then.

“There was no power to get the water pump working. It was a small matter that could have been fixed quickly, but the person who was supposed to be on standby to deal with such matters was not around.”

He said, the hostel, which offers basic lodgings just like any other three- to four-star hostel, was decent and clean.

He said service by the staff was good, and gave the canteen food five stars.

“Without giving them prior notice, I went to try the canteen food. It was really not bad.”

Sim, who recently found an apartment to rent, said he is glad for the one month spent at the NSC hostel, as his time there gave him greater insight into ways the government can continue to support athletes.

In fact, the experience left such a mark on him that he decided to rent an apartment just next door.

“I want to be close to NSC, the National Sports Institute and KL Sports City,” he said, adding that he will continue to enjoy his work at Bukit Jalil Stadium. – August 19, 2018.