Do we really need a gold medalist?
It looks like the idiot, self centred and good for nothing Deputy Prime Minister, Najib hasn’t learn anything from the consequence of the recent fuel price hike and has no concern on the sensitivity of the rakyat at all.
At times when the goverment is urging the rakyat to tighten their belts and spend wisely, the DPM without hesitant announced a hefty amount of money as a reward to the gold medalist of the Olympics. What judgement did he used to justify the rewards will remain a mystery to many of us.
We as rakyat definitely does not need another gold medalist but for starters, lower fuel and goods prices are most welcome.
Let’s pray that all our athletes return home empty handed after the games.
Just read the reader’s comments from the New Straits Times:
R Kueh, Kuching:
Squandering money when there are other economic issues needing more attention. Do we need a gold Olympian? If so, why?
Susan, Kuala Lumpur:
Waste of money! RM1 million can feed so many hardcore poor citizens. This is taxpayers’ money, so listen to us! Who are they (Government) to decide for us?
Chris, Miri:
Can’t cover the cost of oil subsidies but still can handsomely pay RM1 million for gold olympian. What logic is that?
Manjit, Penang:
Please dont waste the tax payers money. Look what happened to our shuttlers. After giving them land, money titles etc. masuk longkang. Government/politicians already draining us taxpayers, now U want us to pay for those who are already going there using OUR money and if you want to serve the country be like Nicole, not expecting rewards but delivering the results.
ET, China:
$1 million for a gold is too much. I wonder why we should reward gold medalists such a huge amount, why don’t the Goverment use the money to help the poor.
Lee, Klang:
It is not the right time to increase the incentive, as the Government has just announced it’s intention to cut cost. I see no reason why the previous incentive is deemed as not sufficient to motivate the athletes. Having such a cash incentives may produce an instant champion, but may not be able to sustain once the incentives is no longer available.
Mai, KL:
No wonder we have to pay more for fuel!!
PAVALARANCE:
RM5,000 pension a month. when does an athlete starts getting the pension. when he is 58yrs old. or when he/she decides to hang up his/her shoes.
anba,kota kinabalu:
Agreed, but pay from the hefty allowances of ministers and top govt officials, not rakyat’s money
sianchew, Subang Jaya:
It is a bloody waste of public fund. The Government should use the money for other urgent matters rather then indulge in trivial ones.
Najib believes the amount is justified.
RM1 MILLION is what Malaysia’s Beijing Olympics gold medallist — if there is one — stands to receive from the Government.
A silver medal will be worth RM300,000 while bronze will fetch RM100,000 but it is obvious that for the Cabinet Committee for Sports, the focus of the 34 national athletes who have qualified for the Olympics should be winning gold.
Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the new incentive amount after chairing the Cabinet Committee meeting in Parliament yesterday.
In fact, it is learnt that Najib, after giving due consideration to just what the Olympics are, insisted that the Government should dangle a lucrative incentive to motivate the athletes.
It is also learnt that the initial proposal had been RM300,000 for gold, RM200,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze, still a hefty increase from the RM160,000, RM80,000 and RM40,000 on offer before.
Najib said the RM1 million should not be considered lavish as it befitted what the Olympics stand for.
“To win a gold medal is not easy because the competition is getting tougher.
“We can see that from one Olympics to another, the standard is increasing.
“We should therefore set a higher target, and provide a more attractive incentive,” Najib said.
Timesport had reported on Jan 3 this year that the Government was considering a higher incentive for Olympic medals and had suggested a RM1 million incentive for gold, especially as Malaysia is desperate to end its gold drought.
Najib obviously agrees and he cited the huge amounts other countries are offering for Olympic gold as another reason for the increase.
Singapore is offering S$1 million (RM2.3 million), as are several other countries.
Silver and bronze medallists in Beijing have also no cause to complain as RM300,000 and RM100,000 are still hefty sums.
“The Olympics come only once every four years and I don’t believe there can be any complaints about the amount we are offering.”
The Cabinet Committee also decided that team sports that win gold medals at the Olympics will see each player receiving RM150,000.
However, Malaysia will not be represented in any team sport in Beijing.
The good news didn’t end there though as the Cabinet Committee also decided to increase the monthly pension of Olympic medal winners effective next month.
“Gold medallists will receive RM5,000 a month from RM3,000 currently, silver medallists RM3,000 (from RM1,500) and bronze medallists RM2,000 (from RM1,000).”
At the moment, Malaysia has five Olympic medallists — badminton’s men’s doubles Razif and Jailani Sidek (1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medallists), Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medallists) and men’s singles Rashid Sidek (Atlanta Olympics bronze medallist).
Najib said the meeting also agreed to award incentives to national paralympic athletes — RM300,000 for a gold medal, RM200,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze.
The committee also stressed on the importance of elite athletes bolstering their mental strength.
“Mental strength is one of the factors that separates winners from the also-rans. Our athletes are of world standard in certain sports but whether they win or lose will depend on their mental strength.”
