KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — The government will consider an additional budget for sports development in the 2017 Budget said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib said the success of the Olympic contingent at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will serve as an inspiration to ensure continued success in the future.

“I feel ‘investment’ in sports will yield good returns to the country and since I am in the midst of preparing the budget, I will remember to consider an additional budget for sports development.

“We must use the success of the Olympic contingent as a stepping stone to ensure a quantum leap in the sport,” he said in his speech at the National Athletes Incentive Scheme (SHAKAM) presentation by the National Sports Council, here tonight.

Najib said concerted efforts are needed so that the success of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics can be used to build the confidence as well as serve as a motivation for systematic training through incorporating sports science.

The Prime Minister stressed that through the focus will be on sports development at all levels, attention must also be given to the ecosystem.

He said those who have yet to achieve the desired success must be given proper guidance and coaching while support from family members and their respective sports associations is equally important.

“Through the ecosystem, parents must support and motivate their children for success, the associations must also shoulder the responsibility and corporate bodies must come in and give their support. That is the complete ecosystem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Najib presented RM3.42 million to gold medal and bronze medal winners in the Paralympics and RM2.9 million to silver medal winners in the Olympics.

Malaysia won three gold and one bronze medal in the Paralympics and four silver and a bronze in the Olympics.

Paralympics:

GOLD: Abdul Latif Romly (athletics) RM1.05 million

GOLD: Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (athletics) RM1.05 million

GOLD: Mohammad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi (athletics) RM1.02 million Bronze: Siti Noor Radiah Ismail (athletics) RM300,000

Olympics:

SILVER: Datuk Lee Chong Wei (Badminton) RM500,000

SILVER: Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying (Badminton) RM350,000 each SILVER: Goh Wei Shem/Tan Wee Kiong (Badminton) RM350,000 each SILVER: Pandelela Rinong/Cheong Jun Hoong (Diving) RM350,000 each Bronze: Azizul Hasni Awang (Cycling) RM300,000.

— Bernama