KUALA LUMPUR — With Budget 2026 to be unveiled this Friday, sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli believes it is time for Malaysia’s sports allocation to move beyond predictable funding patterns and become more exciting, inclusive, and beneficial to all walks of life.
He said the sports fraternity already expects two-thirds of the allocation to go towards high-performance initiatives such as the Podium Programme and the Road to Gold (RTG) project, leaving little to look forward to.
“Honestly, for most of us in the sports fraternity, we roughly know that two-thirds of the overall sports budget will be channeled to high-performance sports, the Podium Programme and the RTG. Really, there isn’t much excitement or looking forward to it,” said Pekan.
He noted that while last year’s RM230 million allocation showed an improvement from 2024, Malaysia’s sports budget remains small compared to the country’s overall RM421 billion spending plan.
“Last year, RM15 million (plus an additional RM5 million) was given to the national football teams, RM20 million for esports and RM1 million for cricket development. My hope this year is that specific budgets like these will not be channelled to troubled National Sports Associations (NSAs) as seen this year with FAM and MCA,” he said.
His remarks come as the sports community continues to grapple with governance issues involving both associations. FIFA recently sanctioned FAM over falsified player registration documents, while the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) came under scrutiny for diverting its RM1 million grant away from grassroots development.
Pekan said the government must ensure that special allocations are only given to associations with proper accountability mechanisms and clean governance records.
“It must be mutual. If there is a need for a specific allocation, there must be proper enforcement to ensure the funds are well managed. The benefit must go towards development and grassroots,” he said.
He suggested that annual audits alone are not enough to prevent mismanagement, calling for the appointment of special officers to monitor special allocations through periodic checks and follow-ups.
“These NSAs are audited once a year, but I think special officers must be assigned to oversee these special funds. There should be periodic checks. This way, it also becomes easier to audit and ensure all processes are in line with proper procedures,” he added.
Looking ahead to today’s announcement, Pekan expects Budget 2026 for sports to be similar in size to last year’s but hopes to see new ideas that can energise the sector.
“My hope is to see a sports budget that is more exciting. Don’t make it seem like a yearly template,” he said.
“If there are bonuses, incentives, and rebates for other industries, then have the same for sports.”
He argued that sports funding should not be limited to elite athletes but should also promote healthy lifestyles across society.
“If we want to move the rakyat towards a sporting nation, it must be a comprehensive budget for all,” said Pekan, adding that the government could consider offering free gym or club memberships to athletes as a form of support.
On corporate participation, he said it remains difficult to attract sponsors despite many companies reporting annual profits.
“Perhaps the pull is not great enough. The government must think of how to benefit the industry and detail it out better for corporate sponsors,” he said.
As the countdown to Budget 2026 continues, Pekan’s message is clear: Malaysia’s sports allocation must evolve beyond predictable funding cycles and set a new standard — one that excites, includes, and uplifts everyone who believes in the power of sport. — October 10, 2025