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THE Sabah Government is looking to enhance incentives for school athletes while continuing efforts to secure sufficient funding to support their participation in national competitions.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development, Sports and Creative Economy Datuk Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh said discussions were ongoing with the relevant authorities to obtain greater allocations for school sports.

“We have made requests and discussions are ongoing. We are not the type to keep pressing aggressively, but there are proper procedures and protocols that need to be followed.

“In the near future, we will continue to provide assistance and will also seek to enhance the incentives offered through the ministry,” he said when responding to a supplementary question from Likas Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook during the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Tuesday.

Tham had suggested that it was time for the Youth Development, Sports and Creative Economy Ministry and the Education Ministry to work together in seeking sufficient allocations for the Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSSS) and the Sabah Education Department to enable Sabah athletes to compete effectively at national school sporting events.

Earlier, replying to Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Thien Ching Qiang, Anil said the ministry continued to provide various forms of assistance to athletes representing the Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSSS) and the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM).

He said the assistance includes financial subsidies to cover transportation, accommodation and meals, sports attire and equipment for training, access to sports facilities such as sports complexes, and victory incentives as recognition for athletes’ achievements.

The ministry also considers applications from schools and athletes’ families to accompany competitors to MSSM championships, although such assistance is only provided when an athlete qualifies to have an accompanying guardian.

Anil said many Sabah athletes who began their sporting careers through MSSS and MSSM had gone on to become national sporting icons.

Among them are para athletics champion Eddy Bernard, pencak silat athlete Nor Farah Mazlan, sailor Muhammad Asnawi Iqbal Adam, T12 para long jumper Wong Kar Gee, long jump and triple jump athlete Andre Anura Anuar, para swimmer Brenda Anellia Larry, para swimmer Abdul Halim Mohammad and para athletics sprinter Ivan Jovic Suan.