THE Penang government, through the Penang State Sports Council (PSSC), provided over RM80,000 monetary assistance in the form of education incentives and sports scholarships to 38 athletes under the Penang Athlete Career Education (PACE) programme at the St Giles The Wembley Hotel in George Town today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the ceremony, presented the newly-introduced PSSC Sports Scholarships totalling RM66,100 to 16 athletes and the Institute of Higher Learning (IPT) Education Incentives totalling RM22,200 to 24 athletes.
Of the 38 athletes, two of them received both the sports scholarships and education incentive aids.
“I would like to congratulate the 38 Penang state athletes who have broken personal records, this time not only in sports but also education.
“Indeed, this is a very proud achievement as well as proving that our state athletes have their own standards. Congratulations and well done!” Chow said in his speech.
The education incentives were given on a one-off basis to the Penang athletes who have received offers to further their studies in certificate, pre-diploma, diploma, full-time bachelor’s degree programmes in public and private institutions while the sports scholarships were given to the state athletes who had represented Penang in Sukma (Malaysia Games).
The education incentives range from RM600 to RM1,000 while the sports scholarships range from RM800 to RM7,500.
On Dec 18 last year, a total of six state athletes were selected as pioneers to receive the education incentive under the PACE programme.
Chow said the number of athletes who had applied and succeeded in getting the education incentive had increased to 24 people, including athletes from squash, floorball, canoeing, hockey, athletics, netball, tenpin bowling, silat, sepak takraw and karate.
In addition to the two types of assistance, Chow said the Penang government would fully support the PACE programme to establish a State Athlete Welfare Scheme. It is to look after the welfare of the state athletes through the bereavement assistance, illness treatment assistance, one-off surgery expenditure assistance, and natural disaster relief.
Chow also announced a new programme under PACE, called the ‘Penang Junior Coaches’ programme which is aimed at providing an opportunity to former Penang state athletes to take up coaching as a career.
He said based on a survey conducted by PSSC, out of a total of 145 primary schools which provided feedback, 81 of them have applied for coaching assistance for specific sports.
“With all forms of assistance offered to develop sports and take care of the state athletes’ welfare, the state government hopes that the platform available can be a catalyst for success and able to produce more competitive athletes in future,” Chow added.
Chow also expressed his appreciation to all parties involved in supporting PACE programme, including sponsors such as Hotayi Electronic, Hunza Group, UWC Berhad, Dee Noon Corporation, Menara Kerjara and Only World Group Holdings Berhad.
He said it is also the hope of the Penang government to see more corporate agencies come forward to help the state athletes to achieve success in education and their careers.
After the presentation ceremony, Chow later joined the athletes and officials to break fast.
Among those present were state Sports and Youth Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, assemblymen Datuk Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah, Ong Ah Teong and Lim Siew Khim, Penang State Sports and Youth Department director Mozakir Buyong Mokhtar, PSSC director Harry Chai Heng Hua, PSSC deputy chairman II Cheah Ban Cheng.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud