Grassroots sports in Malaysia will finally get the attention it deserves.
In a new initiative by the Youth and Sports Ministry, the Malaysian Sports League will be launched later today in an effort to see more competitions organised at the lower levels.
The move is part of the ministry’s aim to strengthen the nation’s sports culture, and to unearth new talents.
A carnival, featuring several core sports, will be held in Ipoh over the weekend, followed by more events nationwide, in the coming weeks.
Grassroots development has been a talking point for decades as Malaysia has only managed pockets of victories on the international stage.
The nation has yet to win a gold medal in the Olympics.
While efforts in the past had been overly elite-centric, the ministry is now setting its sights on the masses.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, in a sports talk show aired earlier this month, had stressed that grassroots development was the only way forward for Malaysian sports.
“In a bid to unearth more talents, we hope to get more Malaysians to be a part of the sporting culture. It’s to ensure that Malaysians continue to take good care of their health, and remain active, so that not much burden is put on our healthcare system,” he had said during the show.
Ahmad Faizal added that such an initiative had to be done on a large scale.
“Imagine Malaysians on the fields or courts, playing a sport, every Saturday and Sunday. This will benefit so many parties, from manufacturers of apparel, to small vendors selling drinks, near the facilities.
“This will raise the standard of sports and generate income for so many people, at so many levels,” he added during the show.
