NSC respond to complaints with bigger rewards for team medallists

PETALING JAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) management board approved new rates for teams under the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam) on Tuesday (Nov 10).

The review was initiated following concerns raised by national sepak takraw player Syahir Rosdi, who highlighted a significant disparity in the reward structure after the Asian Games team champions received RM15,000 each for ending Malaysia’s 36-year gold medal drought, compared to the RM80,000 awarded to individual gold medallists.

Under the previous scheme, athletes in teams of five or more received RM15,000 each for gold, RM8,000 for silver and RM4,000 for bronze, while smaller teams shared a single payout.

A team gold is now worth RM40,000 to each athlete, which is a 166.67% increase. Silver and bronze medallists will receive RM20,000 and RM10,000 each, respectively, regardless of team size as well.

The increase covers medal winners at this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

A total of 66 athletes across 10 Asian Games teams will receive top-up payments, including squash, sepak takraw, hockey, track cycling, karate and esports.

The increase adds RM1.152mil, including coaches’ incentives, lifting the payout for the three Games from RM4.26mil to RM5.41mil. The overall 2026 Shakam payout rises to RM6.69mil, the second highest since the scheme began in 1986.