KUALA LUMPUR — The Youth and Sports Ministry is taking proactive measures to extend the implementation of the Safe Sport Code to the grassroots level starting next year, aiming to foster a secure and harmonious environment within sports.
Minister Hannah Yeoh emphasised the significance of the Safe Sport Code as a guideline applicable to all participants in sports events, competitions, and tournaments, including parents.
Addressing concerns about incidents where referees, umpires, or opposing teams faced attacks from parents, she expressed her commitment to eradicating such behaviour.
“I don’t want to see videos where if a child loses, the parents scold the referee or umpire, scold the opposition team (because) that is not a safe or healthy sports environment.
“So, next year we will emphasise the implementation of the Safe Sport Code so that everyone who is involved knows their responsibilities, including the children,” she said when met at the inaugural Pink Blitz Touch Rugby Porto ’23 championship at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara here today.
Highlighting the ministry’s stance, Yeoh outlined the responsibilities of all involved parties, stating that the Safe Sport Code must be adhered to.
In case of any disputes, organisers or school authorities are required to prepare reports, ensuring compliance with regulations and guidelines.
“Parents are not allowed to interfere (disrupt matches) and school teachers need not be afraid of the parents. We want to ensure there is a trend towards reporting (such incidents) and action is taken,” she said.
Hannah also mentioned the importance of working with the Education Ministry to integrate the Safe Sport Code into schools and expressed concern that not all students are aware of the code.
She assured that all reported cases would be presented at the highest committee meeting, involving the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In another development, Hannah announced an upcoming meeting with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to establish guidelines for tax exemptions related to sports equipment purchases and fees for sports activities under training. — December 15, 2023