SEPANG, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) hopes that Budget 2026 will continue to prioritise the youth and sports sectors by strengthening existing allocations to implement various development initiatives nationwide.
Minister Hannah Yeoh said the ministry has submitted a comprehensive wishlist to the Finance Ministry (MOF) for consideration in the upcoming budget.
She said the wishlist includes requests to maintain the Sports Matching Grant, Community Sports Fund and constituency allocations that have proven effective in driving grassroots development, as well as increased funding for the Road to Gold (RTG) programme and para-athlete development.
“I hope that all the items in KBS’s wishlist will be considered by the Finance Ministry. We understand that many other ministries are also submitting their own requests, but we have outlined our priorities,” she said.
She said this when asked about KBS’s expectations for Budget 2026 at a press conference held during the welcoming ceremony for the national para athletics heroes and heroines from the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 today.
Elaborating further, Hannah said KBS wants more international tournaments to be hosted in Malaysia to give local athletes, especially upcoming talents, greater exposure.
“Next year is also Visit Malaysia 2026, so it would be timely for us to host more international sporting events. When we’re the host, our young athletes get the chance to compete at a higher level without having to travel abroad,” she said.
For the youth sector, Hannah said KBS has also requested additional funding to strengthen the Rakan Muda programme and to produce more young leaders ahead of the new policy taking effect on Jan 1, 2026, which will revise the age limit for youth association leadership.
“We want to see more leaders under 30, especially from rural areas, take charge of youth movements. So, budgetary support is crucial to ensure a smooth transition,” she said.
Budget 2026 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this Friday by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
-- BERNAMA
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