PUTRAJAYA, April 14 (Bernama) -- National para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou received an RM20,000 windfall following his achievement of becoming the country’s most decorated world champion, surpassing the record of squash legend Datuk Nicol David after winning the 2026 Para Badminton World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, in February.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the incentive was awarded by the Federal Territories Department (JWP) and the Federal Territories Sports Council (MSWP) in recognition of Liek Hou’s success in winning nine world titles.
“Liek Hou has broken the record by securing the most World Championship titles, with nine consecutive wins, and this is a source of pride for the Federal Territories. Today, we have presented him with an RM20,000 incentive.
“We hope he will continue to excel in para badminton,” she said at the MADANI Assistance Presentation Ceremony to Sports Bodies in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya for 2026, as well as the incentive presentation for medal winners of the 33rd SEA Games.
Meanwhile, Hannah said the government, through JWP and MSWP, channelled RM282,000 in MADANI Assistance to 81 sports bodies in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya for 2026.
She said the MADANI Assistance was not merely an allocation, but a “trust fund” that required integrity in management and more effective governance among sports bodies.
“This in some ways helps their administration, but as I mentioned, in the current situation, sports associations will find it more challenging to secure funding, so they need to be creative in seeking sponsorship and also practise cost-saving measures,” she said.
At the same event, a total of RM178,000 in incentives was presented to athletes who won medals at the Thailand SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
For the record, 103 Federal Territories athletes at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand last year contributed 19 gold, 24 silver and 34 bronze medals, while eight athletes contributed three gold, three silver and 11 bronze medals at the ASEAN Para Games.
-- BERNAMA
