THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have called for the Rakan Sukan corporate sponsorship programme be brought back as soon as possible.
OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said Rakan Sukan is urgently needed to help offset the deficit in funding following the recent cuts in government allocations for Malaysian sports.
The Rakan Sukan programme was introduced in 1994 as part of the government's initiative to prepare Malaysian athletes for the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
It ended after the KL Commonwealth Games.
"It is not a matter of whether we should reintroduce the Rakan Sukan programme anymore, I feel that we have to do it," said Norza after chairing an OCM executive board meeting yesterday.
"Its re-implementation is not to provide luxury to Malaysian sports but it is to help make up the deficit in funding after the reduction in allocations (from government) and to ensure that Malaysian sports remains competitive.
"OCM, the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC) must sit down and look at how big the gap (deficit) is and identify which national sports associations must be helped.
"The recent NSC working committee meetings involved 16 sports (core sports) but there are many other associations besides them, so we have to look at this holistically.
"We also have to look at this from a governance perspective as well as look at what return on investment the private sector sponsors can expect.
"This is why the government must play an important role in terms of determining the tax incentives and other incentives which can be provided to those who contribute to sports.
"I believe these (incentives) need cabinet approval and I have asked the help of the government agencies to bring this matter to the highest level as soon as possible."
Norza stressed that he does not want the Rakan Sukan programme to be a temporary solution to what is a long term problem.
"I don't want this programme to be like mushrooms after the rain. One day it's here and one day its not," said Norza.
"This is why I have previously stressed the importance of having an independent body — which is protected from changes in political leadership — to oversee the development of Malaysian sports."
On a separate note, Norza disclosed that the OCM board has expressed interest to host the 2027 Sea Games.
"The Sea Games Federation (Seagf) had contacted us and enquired about the possibility of us being able to host the 34th edition (2027) of the Sea Games following Brunei's withdrawal as hosts," said Norza.
"The board has agreed to send an expression of interest (letter) to Seagf.
"We, however, understand the challenging situation the government is currently facing.
"But as the games will only be held in 2027, we have decided to express our interest first.
"We will contact (discuss) with the government once the financial situation has improved."
Malaysia has hosted the Sea Games in 1977, 1989, 2001 and most recently in 2017.
Meanwhile, OCM have appointed their deputy treasurer Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali as Chef-de-Mission for the 2023 Sea Games which is set to be held in Cambodia.
