Abd Karim explains Sarawak cash incentives for Sukma XXI medal winners

KUCHING (Aug 23): The 21st Malaysia Games medal cash incentives won by pairs, trio and teams would be divided equally among the members, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister said if the divided amount is less than RM1,000 each, the Sarawak government will top it up.

According to him, this is the formula decided as follow up to the recent announcement of RM15,000 for each gold medal, RM5,000 per silver medal and RM3,000 per bronze medal by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“Those athletes competing as groups will still get RM15,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000 incentives which will be divided (amongst them). If there are three of them in the group, the RM15,000 incentive will be divided meaning RM5,000 each. If there are two people in the group, RM15,000 will be divided into RM7,500 per person.

“What if there are 10 persons in the group and they won silver? The amount RM500 per person will be topped up to make it RM1,000.

“We will not let them get less than RM1,000. What is for sure is that we will top up the amount (because) we want them to really fight for Sarawak,” he told reporters when met after the Sukma XXI futsal gold medal match between Sarawak and Selangor in Kota Samarahan today.

On a related matter, he said the 70 gold medal target for Sarawak was a realistic target based on calculations made before the Games.

“We estimated the 70 gold medal mark will be the decider on which state will be the overall champions of this Sukma.

“Tomorrow (Aug 24 and also the last day), there are still more than 40 gold medals to be won. That’s still a big amount. Sarawak will not win all, and so will (the closest challenger) Wilayah Persekutuan,” he said.