PETALING JAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) welcomes the various sports initiatives announced in Budget 2027 presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, particularly the allocation for preparations for the 2027 SEA Games and Para Games, as well as the comprehensive development of the national sports ecosystem.
NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin stated that the RM240mil allocation for preparations to host the Games is crucial to ensuring Malaysia are fully prepared to organise the multi-sport events, while leveraging the advantage of being the host to improve the performance of national athletes.
"Hosting both Games provides an opportunity to elevate Malaysia’s image on the international stage, showcase the nation’s capabilities, and ignite the spirit of unity among the people," he said in a statement Saturday (Oct 10).
"At the same time, we want to ensure that national athletes receive the best preparation so they can capitalise on home-ground advantage and deliver a proud performance."
He also welcomed the RM460mil allocation for national sports development, which includes efforts to empower high-performance sports programmes and the Road to Gold (RTG) initiative, the development of para-athletes and Deaf Games athletes, and the maintenance of sports facilities nationwide.
Jefri believes that continued investment in this field will ensure athlete development is carried out systematically, covering areas such as training, sports science, sports medicine, competitive exposure and athlete welfare.
"Achieving success at the highest level requires long-term planning and consistent support. Therefore, efforts to strengthen high-performance programmes must go hand-in-hand with developing new talent, ensuring we not only produce athletes capable of success today but also prepare successors for the future," he said.
At the same time, NSC view the RM30mil allocation for the sports matching grant as having the potential to expand opportunities to host high-performance sports events organised by sports bodies, clubs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
"The involvement of sports bodies, clubs, and NGOs is vital to broadening the nation’s sports ecosystem. This matching grant will drive the organisation of more quality competitions, enabling athletes to gain competitive exposure while opening avenues for collaboration between the government and the non-governmental sector."
Jefri also welcomed the 50% increase in the allocation for school students' sports activities to RM27mil, which is expected to benefit more than 4.6 million students across approximately 10,000 schools nationwide.
"The development of national athletes must begin from a strong foundation. Student participation in sports activities not only builds a healthier and more active generation, but also provides a platform for talent to be identified and nurtured continuously through the national sports development system."
Regarding community participation, he described the expansion of individual income tax relief for the purchase of sports equipment, including sports shoes, as an encouraging step to motivate more people to take part in physical activities and incorporate sport into their daily lives.
"Budget 2027 is extremely positive as it highlights the importance of comprehensive sports development — from school and community levels up to high-performance sports — while ensuring para-athletes and Deaf Games athletes receive equal attention.
"NSC will continue to work closely with all stakeholders—national sports associations, state sports councils, schools, clubs, and all relevant parties—to ensure these initiatives are fully optimised.
"Our goal is not merely to chase medals or successfully host an event, but to build a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive sports ecosystem for the excellence of our athletes and the benefit of the people and the nation," he added.
