KUALA LUMPUR: The government has announced an allocation of RM3mil to strengthen sepak takraw development in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the funding will be channelled towards safeguarding the welfare of players, while supporting the activities of the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) and the operations of the Malaysia Sepak Takraw Academy.
“To ensure that our young players are well taken care of, receive proper training, and have adequate provisions, including food and drink, I am approving a total of RM2mil.
“This is in addition to the RM1mil that was announced earlier by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari,” he said during the launch of the Malaysia Sepak Takraw Academy on Tuesday (April 14).
Earlier, Taufiq announced that his ministry had approved an allocation of RM1mil in conjunction with the Sepak Takraw World Cup, which will be held in Malaysia next month.
Anwar said the sport represents a cultural heritage and a source of national pride that must be nurtured with discipline, training and spirit.
He also called on the Youth and Sports Ministry to play a more active role in expanding multi-ethnic participation in sepak takraw and in positioning the sport as a symbol of national unity.
Anwar said sepak takraw holds a special place as it has long been rooted in the lives of the people, particularly in villages and rural areas, where almost every generation has been exposed to the game.
He said efforts to strengthen the sport should not be focused solely on associations or players, but must instead be carried out comprehensively to spark greater public interest, especially among the younger generation.
“It is true that in its early stages, it was more popular among what I believe to be a large majority of Malay children, just as basketball is more popular among Chinese children.
“However, this is where the ministry must play its role in ensuring that more children from other communities also begin to take an interest in and participate in sepak takraw, just as Malay children should also be exposed to other sports,” he said.
He added that sepak takraw has also grown beyond being merely a domestic sport, gaining recognition on the international stage with the involvement of global bodies and sporting leaders.
However, further efforts are needed to strengthen its standing globally, including providing proper training, discipline and well-developed facilities.
“When we see someone winning in badminton, whether the player is Chinese, Indian or Malay, we no longer think about race. We think about sporting excellence and the pride of our beloved Malaysia.
"Similarly, when we watch sepak takraw in Bangkok, we feel proud. Even if the players are all Malays, this is what we want to highlight, spread and instil.
"This shows that the country has matured, and we are giving space. Those involved must also understand that this is Malaysia today.
"We elevate sports, we break down narrow racial perceptions, and we show love among ourselves. Through sports, we can mature as a people.
"(But) without spirit, without discipline and without training, it is impossible for us to reach a higher level.”
