Bigger perk$ for team success as minister steps in to revise 24-year scheme

PETALING JAYA: The scales are now more balanced for Malaysian athletes competing in team sports compared to individual events.

After 24 years, the National Sports Council (NSC) narrowed the gap between team and individual medallists with new approved rates for the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam).

Each athlete who wins team gold at the Asian Games, Asian Para Games or Commonwealth Games will now receive RM40,000, half the RM80,000 awarded to an individual champion.

Additionally, team silver medallists will receive RM20,000 each and bronze medallists RM10,000 each, regardless of team size.

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. Teams of four or fewer shared a single payout.

The individual rates, which were last revised in 2010, remain unchanged at RM80,000 for gold, RM40,000 for silver and RM20,000 for bronze.

The review followed concerns raised by national sepak takraw player Syahir Rosdi, who highlighted a significant disparity in the reward structure.

Syahir was part of the squad that ended Malaysia’s 36-year wait for an Asian Games team gold in Aichi-Nagoya, where each player received RM15,000 compared to the RM80,000 awarded to individual gold medallists.

The revised rates will apply to future editions of the three Games, and cover medallists from this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

At the Asian Games alone, 66 athletes from 10 medal-winning teams will receive top-ups. They include the men’s and women’s squash teams, who both won gold, and medallists in sepak takraw, hockey, track cycling, karate and e-sports.

The revision adds RM1.152mil, including payments under the Coaches’ Incentive Scheme (SGAR), raising the combined 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.

Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari said the higher rewards should encourage athletes to keep improving, particularly with Malaysia hosting the 2027 SEA Games.

“We can’t just keep asking athletes to perform. As the Ministry (in charge), we have to make sure their welfare and incentives are also taken care of,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.

Taufiq said he was confident the higher incentives would motivate athletes and urged associations to focus on helping them meet their performance targets.

“It is a form of added motivation for the athletes, not just for the seniors but also the juniors.”

Taufiq urged national sports associations to look at how they are preparing their athletes for the home Games. He said any changes to the SEA Games incentives would be announced separately.