KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Only 66.1 per cent of the Malaysians are active in sports, according to a sports culture Index study conducted in 2019.
Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib said the results of the study also showed that the involvement of Malaysians in sports was at a moderate level.
He said that among the main factors that prevented the people from inculcating a sports culture in their lifestyle as stated in the study were the lack of public sports facilities, the weather and time constraints.
“We will scrutinise the matter in order to provide more (sports) facilities in the communities and help the country achieve the sports nation status,” he said.
He said this in a webinar session titled ‘Sukan Untuk Semua Transformasi Ke Arah Komuniti Yang Aktif dan Cergas’, organised by the National Youth and Sports Department (JBSN) recently.
At the same time, M Noor Azman expressed his concern that the current COVID-19 pandemic would indirectly limit sports activities and affect the country’s sports culture index in the future.
He also said that views and input of stakeholders were also needed to enable KBS to draw up a comprehensive plan that can help propel sports development in the country.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Hockey Confederation deputy president and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) vice president Prof Datuk Dr S. Shamala pointed out that the sports communities need to constantly innovate strategies in making sports a priority in the spectrum of life.
Shamala also highlighted a few suggestions to encourage sports in the community such as engaging the public through awareness campaigns, empowering women in sports and widening the horizons at the grassroots level.
“For instance, a community development programme at the grassroots level must be focusing not only on sports, but other soft skills such as communication, language, team building, psychology and nutrition. I believe this would help the kids to be all rounded individuals,” she said.
Meanwhile, JBSN director-general, Datuk Wasitah Mohd Yusof said all quarters must work together in providing the foundation and strong support towards efforts to inculcate the sports culture among the people in the country.
Sources: BERNAMA