PM announces special reward for Rio medallists

Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak give his speech the Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA. FAIHAN GHANI/The Star.

SEPANG: The eight medal-winning athletes had a pleasant surprise when the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced an additional RM200,000 for each of them.

This is on top of the earlier reward under the national incentive scheme for winning an Olympic medal – RM100,000 for bronze,  RM300,000 for silver and RM1mil for gold.

“It’s the biggest acknowledgement of what the athletes did for the country,” said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin,.

“Interestingly, not one of the athletes mentioned to me while I was there in Rio about getting any extra incentive if they do well.

“They never did it for the money but only wanted to give the best for the country.”