Establish a pension for former national athletes and coaches

IT has long been a stain on Malaysia’s record that we neglect the welfare needs of our nation’s former sports heroes – athletes and coaches alike. These stalwarts dedicated the best years of their lives to raise Malaysia’s international sporting profile, often paying the price with injuries that take their toll in their advancing years, long after their triumphs have faded into history.

Recently, the case of Datuk R.Yogeswaran brought these concerns into glaring focus. He is a two-time Olympian hockey player, representing Malaysia in 1964 and 1968, and he also played in two Asian Games. He served 23 years as a government officer (as a teacher and with the then Culture, Youth and Sports ministry).

However, Yogeswaran left government service to help develop Malaysia’s hockey prowess, including working on the 1MAS junior initiative for hockey players, and because of this draws only a meagre government pension – all his years in developing hockey has been ignored. At 87, and with medical issues, the amount, even coupled with his wife’s pension from her service as a teacher, is not enough.

A promising solution to this ongoing issue was suggested at one of the meetings of the National Athletes’ Welfare Foundation: establishing a pension scheme. All of the current help for athletes and coaches at various levels of service and achievements is valuable for what it can do. But it is time to create a new support mechanism for former athletes and coaches that considers rising costs of living and medical care.

I hope the new Youth and Sports Minister, Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari, and Deputy Minister, Mordi Bimol, will consider a pension package for retired athletes and coaches who gave their best years to the country.

C. SATHASIVAM SITHERAVELLU

Former international athlete

Seremban