Pahang Raises Incentives For SEA Games, Para Games Medallists

KUANTAN, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The Pahang government has announced an increase in incentives for state athletes who competed in the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in Thailand recently.

Under the new incentive scheme, a gold medal is worth RM8,000 for the individual category and RM4,000 per person for the team category; a silver medal is worth RM4,000 (individual) and RM2,000 per person (team); and a bronze medal is worth RM2,500 (individual) and RM1,500 per person (team).

The state government will also provide a special incentive of RM2,000 to athletes who break SEA Games records to encourage them to continue to excel.

 Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail described the higher incentives as the state's appreciation for their outstanding performances in the Games, thus bringing glory to the state on the international stage.

"The national contingent's successes in raking in 231 medals at the SEA Games and 201 medals at the ASEAN Para Games prove that Malaysia, including Pahang, have competitive and disciplined athletes with a champion's mentality,” he said at the ceremony to award the incentives to Pahang athletes at a leading hotel here today. 

Wan Rosdy said that in its effort to strengthen the development of high-performance sports, the state government has allocated RM21.04 million through the Pahang Sports Council, in addition to providing RM450,000 through the 'Athlet Makmur Pahang’ initiative to support young athletes.

State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the state's athletes contributed 23 medals at the SEA Games and seven medals at the ASEAN Para Games, with Nani Sahirah Maryata shining brightest by breaking the national record en route to clinching gold in women's shot put.

"More encouragingly, the Tengku Arif Bendahara of Pahang, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah ibni Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, also delivered a gold and a bronze in polo.

"I had the opportunity to witness Tengku Muhammad Iskandar in action as he gave it his all for the love of the country. Syabas and congratulations, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar. Surely this success will be an example to other athletes, including the younger generation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA