KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Malaysian sports is expected to undergo a transformation with the restructure of the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Sports Institute (ISN), Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin revealed today.

Khairy believes the separation of the NSC and ISN was badly handled and created silos. The restructure will be a step to fix this legacy and overhaul the development of sports.

Khairy tabled the establishment of a National Sports Module, which will involve the development of high-performance athletes.

These athletes will come under the supervision of two establishments. The NSC will be responsible for programme management, and the ISN performance management.

Khairy said the move was to ensure the two agencies would not work in silo. Youth and Sports Ministry chief secretary Datuk Jamil Salleh will coordinate the restructure and outline the roles of the respective agencies to avoid overlapping roles.

The NSC will retain its previous role as the coordinator of athletes’ development, establish relationship and working relationship with sports associations and all related agencies involved in the development of athletes.

Khairy said the NSC would also be responsible to ensure continuity for athletes who compete in SUKMA to continue their journey to the SEA Games, which will be the platform for the exposure of athletes under the restructure.

“The NSC’s responsibility to ensure continuity is important to establish a pool of quality athletes who can be groomed for bigger challenges at a higher level of competition,” Khairy said.

He said the ISN would draft, study and implement the Podium Programme, a programme to prepare the best athletes through proper nutrition, training, sports science, coaching and facilities.

“We will only select the best athletes to be included in the programme,” said Khairy. “Once selected there will be no compromise, appeal or excuses because the benefits are tremendous. They will shoulder a huge responsibility and the best support services will be provided.”

To produce athletes of quality, the coaching department would also be developed in tandem with the requirements, support and management. Therefore the ISN will take over the National Coaching Academy from the NSC and the training module, development of coaches would be more comprehensive and specific through the application of sports science.

“The management of coaches, hiring and firing at every phase of athletes’ development will remain under the respective agencies,” he said.

Khairy said the management of events that was previously handled by the NSC would be taken over by the ministry, so that the NSC can concentrate on the preparation of athletes for competitions.

“To carry out the transformation, a task force will also be formed on March 1, to plan and draft a blueprint within 100 days,” he said. “The blueprint will also encompass the development of paralympic athletes.

“I will also set up a Command and Control committee to ensure the blueprint is implemented and monitored to achieve the aspiration of the nation. The committee will meet once in three months.”

Khairy in his speech also urged all sports associations to play their respective roles to ensure the success of the transformation. — Bernama