Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (Malga) was given RM20,000 by the Youth and Sports Ministry in the restart of their ‘Golf for Girls’ programme.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh made the announcement during her visit to Golf Academy Borneo in Sutera Golf and Country Club where the programme is being held on Sunday.
The development programme which was started in 2006 had a successful run for five years before it was abruptly stopped due to the lack of funds.
Yeoh said the ministry will find ways to help the association to run the programme despite having no budget catered for it at the moment.
“I understand that this programme had to be discontinued as a result of lack of funds at that time. Currently we don’t have a specific fund for us to apply in this programme.
“I just want to say that under NSC (National Sports Council), we emphasise women in sports, so we have a budget for women in sports that we may be able to tap in there,” she said.
Meanwhile, Malga’s president Tunku Puteri Tunku Puan Sri Jawahir Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar who was present said they are very happy to team up with Golf Academy Borneo in the restart of the programme here in Sabah.
She said the academy’s director Neil Douglas was one of the coaches for the ‘Gold for Girls’ programme in 2006 and the partnership will help in their search for talented junior girls to realise their potential and to produce future champions with the appropriate support and funding.
She is confident that with the support of the Ministry under Hannah’s drive and enthusiasm, they will be able to achieve the goal.
