KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today clarified that the purpose in asking national sports associations (NSA) to open a special bank account is to make it easier for them to receive funds from the government. She said opening the special bank account is a primary responsibility that the NSAs must follow to ensure all funds channelled to them can be audited and used to help athletes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, previously, when funds were provided to elite athletes competing internationally, the reimbursement process required initial outlays by the NSAs, which were later reimbursed upon submission of receipts. The new process aims to streamline this by providing an advance, allowing NSAs to report on their usage with the condition of auditing. Hannah emphasized the importance of this system, stating, “If (you) don’t open a special account, how do we transfer money? This is basic if (you) want to apply anywhere.”

Hannah was speaking at a press conference after officiating the Intercl
ub Taekwondo Championships 2024 at the Titiwangsa Stadium. She noted that several NSAs had previously refused to open the required special bank accounts, causing delays in fund distribution. The minister further stated that this measure is similar to her own responsibilities as a member of parliament, where transparency and accountability are paramount.

Yeoh also highlighted that nine out of 19 NSAs have yet to open a special bank account. In addition, she spoke about the upcoming post-evaluation session of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will involve representatives from Nippon Sports Science University. This session is set to analyze Malaysia’s performance, where the contingent earned two bronze medals in badminton.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Interclub Taekwondo Championships 2024 sees participation from 1,500 athletes across 253 taekwondo clubs, aiming to discover new talent for the national backup squad.