PM Anwar: Quest to strike gold in Paris, Los Angeles Olympics to be intensified

PM Anwar: Quest to strike gold in Paris, Los Angeles Olympics to be intensified

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said sports has proven to be successful in forging unity and building an active and healthy community and, as such, the government will implement more community-level sports programmes. — Reuters pic

Monday, 11 Sep 2023 5:57 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Efforts to prepare national athletes to hit the jackpot under the Road to Gold mission at the 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be intensified, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said sports has proven to be successful in forging unity and building an active and healthy community and, as such, the government will implement more community-level sports programmes.


“An allocation of RM40 million has also been provided to registered community sports associations to organise sports events,” he said when tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review (12MP MTR) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

In addition, Anwar said the development of the creative industry will also be boosted as a high-impact strategic industry and several measures will be taken, including strengthening governance, developing centralised big data analytics and developing local creative talent.


He said the government also provided funds totalling RM346 million during the 12MP period, particularly to attract the involvement of youth in creative activities that offer high income.


Anwar said the development of the creative industry as a high-impact strategic activity will complement the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030).

The prime minister said the government will also launch the National Youth Economic Empowerment Plan to increase the marketability of youth who are unemployed and involved in the informal unemployment sector.

He said this group will be equipped with knowledge and skills to increase the potential involvement in technology-related activities to generate higher income.

“In the second quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate among youth aged 15 to 24 is at a worrying level of 10.7 per cent,” he said.

The prime minister also said that the Rakan Muda initiative, which has been given a new lease of life, will be intensified to focus on improving democratic literacy and motor racing activities, besides developing the potential of youth, who are the future heirs of the country. — Bernama

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kt comments:

Just 6 years ago we had one of the most powerful and successful diving teams in the world, winning the 2016 Olympics (Rio) diving silver medal last year and clinching all 13 diving golds in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The two Olympic silver medallists (synchronised 10 metres platform) were Cheong Jun Hoong and Pandelela Rinong. The following year Cheong Jun Hoong became Malaysia's first diving world champion after winning the 10 metres platform event at the 2017 World Aquatics Championship.

Cheong and Pandelela won several medals at international diving events.

Both and several other members of the Malaysian diving team were coached by Yang Zhuliang (from China), who has held the role since 2008.

The Malaysian diving team would have gone on to greater glories, but alas, due to a cry-manja baby, and the 'light-ears' of the diving authorities, Yang and his assistant had their contracts terminated that year in 2017.

The Taipei Times reported (extracts only):

Malaysia national diving coach axed over ‘toxic culture that led to rape’AFP, KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia’s head diving coach has lost his job after allegedly allowing a “toxic” culture to develop among his team that led to rape, violence and bullying, the government said.

Yang Zhuliang, who has held the role since 2008 and is originally from China, will not have his contract renewed when it runs out at the end of this month.

Yang led Malaysia to unprecedented success, with the nation winning their first Olympic diving silver medal last year and clinching all 13 diving golds in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

However, allegations that another national coach, who was close to Yang, raped a young diver who was training for the next Olympics shocked the country and prompted sports officials to examine team management.

Assistant coach Huang Qiang denied committing the rape in October when he was charged in court and is due to stand trial.

Malaysian Minister for Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin said that while there were no allegations directed at Yang himself, a “toxic culture” had developed among the divers under his leadership.

“The main reason why [Yang’s] contract as national diving head coach was not renewed was because of a culture and environment of fear among some of our divers,” Khairy said on Friday in a statement. “This culture and environment had caused cases of rape, sexual harassment, violence, beatings, bullying and threats.”

“No gold medal is worth more than the safety of national athletes,” Khairy said.

However, Yang, in his 50s, said the claims were unfair.

“I seldom mix with the divers after training and I don’t pay any attention to their personal lives,” he was cited by the Star newspaper as saying. “How could I possibly be in control of everything?”

As well as the rape allegation, local media reported tensions between coaches and athletes, including a fight breaking out between one trainer and a diver during a volleyball match.

So Malaysia got a Mat Salleh (Aussie) coach instead - results? Zilch.

Footnote: In early 2020 the High Court cleared Huang Qiang of any wrong/crime of rape.

Fate had destined Malaysia athletes to mediocre performance.