PUTRAJAYA, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Retail chain 99 Speed Mart Sdn Bhd has contributed top-up cash rewards amounting to RM107,000 to five Malaysian medal winners at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
She said the contribution saw para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou and national powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin each receive an additional RM35,000 for winning gold medals in Paris 2024.
She said athletics stars Datuk Abdul Latif Romly and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli each received RM15,000 for winning silver, while their teammate Eddy Bernard was awarded RM7,000 for his bronze medal achievement at the prestigious Games.
Hannah stressed that the contribution by the retail chain was not from the three companies initially announced by the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), which was previously reported to have promised RM60,000 to gold medal winners at the 2024 Paralympics last year.
“So, after this issue happened, I want to say clearly, 99 Speed Mart was not involved in the original promise. 99 Speed Mart read the news, heard about this, contacted my office and said they want to step in and put this matter to rest to help the para athletes.
“They stepped in to resolve this so that the athletes will take home the amount that was in the press, reported in the news,” she told a press conference here today.
As such, Hannah considered the matter settled and urged athletes to focus on achieving more success for the country in the future.
She also hoped that not only PCM and the Olympic Council of Malaysia would adopt the Road To Gold sponsorship template as she suggested last Saturday but also other athletes and sports bodies, to ensure that promised incentives from sponsors are formally documented.
Liek Hou recently claimed that PCM failed to deliver the promised RM60,000 cash incentive after he won a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games, expressing his disappointment via social media.
The delay in payment led to a public dispute, with PCM last Thursday even considering legal action and suspension against the athlete.
However, Hannah confirmed on Sunday that no suspension would be imposed as Liek Hou’s demand was not a disciplinary breach but instead related to an outstanding sponsorship pledge.
-- BERNAMA
