KBS Sec-gen Told Review GPS Application Of MAKAF

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) secretary-general (KSU) Datuk Dr K. Nagulendran has been asked to review the Sports Matching Grant (GPS) application by the Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF), regarding the total allocation for the organisation of WKF (World Karate Federation) Karate1-Series A Kuala Lumpur 2025 Championship in Nilai, in October.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the complaint voiced by MAKAF president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad as reported by the media yesterday had merit given that the championship was world-class and involved a large number of athletes.

“Actually, we are not neglecting any sports...The Sports Matching Grant Committee is chaired by the KSU at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and I am not on the committee.

“So I think there is a reason why Datuk Nur Azmi is not happy because we do depend on karate to bring back medals and bring a lot of revenue for the country,” she said at a press conference after attending the 2025 Sepak Takraw Perpaduan Kaum Basic Sports Training Course (KLAS) here, today.

Yesterday, the media reported that Nur Azmi was disappointed after KBS only approved an allocation of RM450,000, an amount that was deemed unreasonable compared to the actual cost of organising the tournament in Nilai which reached RM1.5 million, in addition to the funds still not being received even though the tournament has been completed.

Nur Azmi said the amount also did not commensurate with the scale of the international-level competition, involving 1,200 athletes from 82 countries, apart from having to reject the WKF offer for Malaysia to host the international tournament again next year after not receiving support to organise the competition.

Hannah said she truly understood the situation experienced by MAKAF and once again wanted KBS secretary-general to review the GPS for them to facilitate the organisation of the tournament offered by WKF next year.

Meanwhile, Hannah said she had also asked GPS to improve by reviewing aspects or matters that cannot be reclaimed in the GPS including the cost of broadcasting fees for an international tournament organised in the country.

"The price for broadcasting is not in the claimable item but it costs a lot because according to international standards, sometimes the world body will require the organiser to broadcast (the tournament)," she said.

Meanwhile, she said the sport of sepak takraw needs to be introduced to children as early as seven years old with the need to provide basic videos so that children can learn the techniques quickly and recommended that each KLAS participant go home with a ball so that they can continue to practise at home.

She said that all of the suggestions will be taken to a higher level, including to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development in addition to obtaining the cooperation of the Ministry of Education to ensure that KLAS can be expanded and made successful in schools nationwide.

Sepaktakraw Federation of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan also hopes that the organisation of KLAS this time can unearth new national sepaktakraw talents from other races such as Chinese and Indian in the future.

A total of 147 students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Besi, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Chinese) Kwong Hon and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Sungai Besi took part in KLAS today.

-- BERNAMA