Onn Hafiz (centre) with some of the Johor athletes who will be participating in Sukma 2024 from Aug 17 to 24.
EACH athlete who secures a gold medal for Johor in the upcoming Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2024 will receive RM10,000 as an incentive.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state was trying to repeat its success in the previous edition of the games in 2022 which saw Johor bringing home 77 gold medals.
He said this year, the target was 70 gold medals for Johor, which is a review of National Sports Council Johor (MSNJ) director Mohd Ekmaluddin Ishak’s initial 50 gold medal target.
“Considering our athletes’ remarkable success in Sukma 2022, where they secured 77 gold medals, this initial target seemed too modest.
“Hence, this year, the goal has been raised for Sukma 2024 in Sarawak.
“Each athlete achieving a gold medal will be honoured with RM10,000 from the state government.
“Additionally, coaches guiding athletes to gold will receive RM5,000, based on their respective sports categories,” Onn Hafiz said in his speech at Sukma Johor Countdown event themed “Sukma 2024: The Next Chapter” at Larkin Arena Aquatic Centre in Johor Baru.
In terms of group achieve-ments, teams will receive RM20,000 as an incentive, he elaborated.
“With approximately six months until the games, the hope is for Johor’s athletes to utilise this time effectively for rigorous training and to give their all for the state.
“We have made significant investment of half a billion ringgit in preparing necessary facilities and amenities to nurture athletes, and the aim is to see this vision come to fruition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johor youth, sports, entrepreneur develop-ment, and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the state government had started rolling out its streamlined sports facilities plan.
“We recently conducted a meeting with Johor Stadium Corporation under Johor Sports Master Plan 2030 to list all sports facilities in the state.
“The aim is to have a database of facilities so that it will be easier for us to manage and maintain them as well as to nurture future talents.
“From there, we will divide the jurisdiction (to maintain the facilities) according to district offices or local councils,” he said.
Mohd Hairi added that Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) would be the role model for the plan, in line with the state target of turning Johor Baru into a sports city this year.
Sukma 2024, from Aug 17 to 24, will feature events across nine divisions in Sarawak, namely Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Serian, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.
The Johor 2022 Sukma contingent won 77 gold medals, 52 silver and 43 bronze to emerge as overall champions in the biennial games held that year in Kuala Lumpur.
