KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) believe if the administration of National Sports Associations (NSAs) are streamlined properly, there would be better productivity.
Referring to the "Developing the capacity of National Sport Associations" report by Brian Minikin and Prof Leigh Robinson from the University of Stirling last year, OCM pointed out NSAs can prevent outside influence and interference only if they are financially sound, which can happen if they generate their own funds.
The Sports Ministry spent about RM6 million for the study that highlighted interference from the National Sports Council (NSC), which inevitably caused NSAs to lose their independence and unable to perform.
This was the reason given by Malaysia Athletic Union deputy-president Karim Ibrahim who quit as chairman of the national body's coaching committee. Apparently, those who attended night claimed Karim complained the coaches were indifferent towards him as they were all under NSC's payroll.
Most national coaches receive their wages from the NSC. The NSC, being the funding arm of the Ministry, received RM61.9 million and RM58.9 million from Sports Toto alone in 2009 and 2010. The question that is being raised is whether the funds should be given to the NSAs directly.
"OCM will prepare an organisation structure for the NSAs, prepare a standard operation procedure manual for sports officers and a standard salary structure based on NSC's salary scheme," said OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.
"The government should provide an annual management grant to the NSAs - about RM10,000 per month - for a period of 10 years to employ suitably-qualified staff. This is to build the NSAs to be financially independent.”
Kok Chi said after the 10-year period, grants to the NSAs should cease.
"There will be an annual assessment and evaluation of the NSAs to identify weaknesses.”
It is hoped this will allow associations like the Malaysian Handball Federation to one day join their richer cousins like the FA of Malaysia and BA of Malaysia.
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