Kuala Lumpur: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has ceased using government funds for the maintenance and development of sports facilities located on private land. Minister Hannah Yeoh announced this decision, emphasizing that public funds will no longer be used for non-government facilities, such as futsal courts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Yeoh explained that the ministry's focus is to ensure that any new sports facilities are built on Federal Government land to ensure public accessibility. She highlighted the challenges faced when sports facilities are constructed on land belonging to local authorities or state governments, stressing the necessity of obtaining official agreements before construction begins. Yeoh noted that projects on private land have been discontinued due to past instances where state governments declined to accept facilities like swimming pools, citing high maintenance costs.
Deputy Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim revealed that since 2021, the ministry has demolished 30 inadequately maintained futsal courts across the nation. This includes 20 courts in Peninsular Malaysia, incurring costs of RM11 million, and 10 courts in Sabah and Sarawak, with losses amounting to RM1.4 million, primarily involving 1Malaysia futsal courts.
Additionally, Minister Yeoh announced a strategic shift in addressing youth mental health issues, focusing on the use of vape and drug addiction. She stated that KBS, not being an enforcement agency, will create platforms for youth to access assistance and treatment through online systems and partnerships with organizations like the Malaysian Aids Council. These efforts aim to make it easier for youth to seek help and increase awareness of mental health programs.
Yeoh also pointed out a decline in youth club membership in Malaysia compared to the 1990s, when about 50 percent of the youth population, or four to five million youths, were actively involved. She attributed the decrease to the rise of smartphones and online services, noting that only about one million youths, or 10 percent of the youth population, are currently active in youth clubs, raising concerns about the whereabouts of the remaining 90 percent.