Kuala lumpur: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has announced an allocation of RM10 million for the Para Podium programme next year, aimed at supporting athletes in both domestic and international competitions. This initiative will cover various assistance components as well as the preparation and participation of para athletes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that the allocation intends to support para athletes competing in a total of 36 international events and 34 domestic competitions under the ministry's high-performance sports programme. Recent trends have shown a marked increase in the involvement of para athletes in events such as the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), with Sarawak emerging as a leading state in para sports development.

Yeoh highlighted that in the SUKMA 2024 records in Sarawak, 1,265 para athletes from across the nation participated, with Sarawak hosting the highest number of athletes at 213. Comparing the participation statistics from SUKMA 2022 to SUKMA 2024, there was a significant 64 percent increase in para athlete involvement, as she explained during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara.

Responding to Senator Isaiah Jacob's inquiry regarding allocations for the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) community in sporting events for 2026, Hannah Yeoh noted that since last year, the National Sports Council has been tasked with managing the preparation of para athletes. This responsibility was previously managed by the state Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities and the state sports councils.

Yeoh elaborated that the transition was essential because para athletes involved in high-performance programmes require development and training methodologies akin to those used in international competitive sports. Meanwhile, the Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities can concentrate on promoting sports as part of a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being for the PwD community.