THE Education Ministry (MOE) is considering an allocation to develop self-defence sports, including wushu, silat and karate in primary and secondary schools in the future.

Its deputy minister, Lim Hui Ying said the allocation would unearth talent in various self-defence sports through training and the organising of events or competitions at school level.

“The ministry will consider allocations for self-defence sports, maybe in the ministry’s upcoming budget.

”We will also discuss in further detail on how to ensure that these type of sports can be conducted as best as possible at the school level,” she told reporters at the close of the 12th MOE-Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) Wushu Championship at Bukit Serindit in Malacca today.

She added that self-defence sports have been listed to be part of the school co-curriculum, and the initiative would involve state and district education departments to ensure that it was comprehensive, and the ministry would work with the Youth and Sports Ministry to conduct a special training session for this type of sports at the school level to ensure exposure to students.

Lim also encouraged the participation of other races in wushu in school as it does not belong to one race only and can be learnt by everyone for their health and self defence.

A recent Sports Development High Level Committee meeting decided that self-defence sports should be classified as a sports activity instead of a uniformed body in schools previously, which would allow athletes in schools to be on par with other sports in line with the Sports Development Act 1997. – Bernama, July 2, 2023.