KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s national athletes should be given a formal retirement safety net, including Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) protection, with the government urged to make their long-term financial security a key feature of Budget 2027.
Senior sports analyst and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) sports science lecturer Sadek Mustaffa said athletes who had represented Malaysia at major multi-sport events or world championships deserved a structured retirement scheme with payments above the national poverty line.
Speaking to Scoop, Sadek said the rate should be reviewed every 10 years to ensure it remained relevant to the rising cost of living.
“It is appropriate for the government to announce a retirement scheme for all athletes who have represented the country at major multi-sport events or world championships, with a rate that is above the national poverty line, as a recognition of their services and contributions to the country. This rate should be reviewed every 10 years,” he said.
Sadek also called for national athletes to be formally recognised as professionals and covered by EPF and SOCSO from the start of their careers.
“If athletes are recognised as a profession and registered with SOCSO, with EPF contributions made, then the welfare of athletes will be better protected,” he said.
He said such measures were necessary given the years athletes devoted to representing Malaysia.
“Athletes dedicate their careers to representing the country, so recognising them as a profession, with proper EPF and SOCSO contributions, is an important step towards ensuring that their welfare is better protected,” he said.
Sadek also proposed a tiered monthly pension for Malaysian athletes who win medals at major multi-sport events and world championships, suggesting RM10,000 for gold medallists, RM6,000 for silver medallists and RM3,000 for bronze medallists.
He further proposed increasing the Olympic medal incentive to RM3 million for gold, RM2 million for silver and RM1 million for bronze.
“In this year’s budget, those who win gold medals at major multi-sport events and world championships should be given a pension above the national poverty line. The Olympic gold medal incentive should be increased to RM3 million, silver to RM2 million and bronze to RM1 million, with their pensions set at RM10,000, RM6,000 and RM3,000 respectively,” he said.
Sadek said a stronger welfare framework would demonstrate the government’s commitment to athletes who represent Malaysia on the international stage.
“If the government is serious about winning the hearts and minds of athletes, then these issues need to be addressed. The government must show that it values the contribution of athletes and is serious about their welfare,” he said.
His calls come amid renewed concerns over the welfare of former national athletes, following reports of former sporting heroes facing serious health, financial and personal challenges after their competitive careers ended.
The cases have intensified calls for a permanent system to support former athletes before they reach a point of financial or medical crisis.
Former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) executive committee member and sports analyst Datuk Christopher Raj backed the proposal, saying Budget 2027 should move away from ad hoc assistance towards a structured and sustainable welfare mechanism.
“Budget 2027 should move towards a comprehensive and structured welfare scheme rather than relying on ad-hoc assistance. Former national athletes have represented the country at the highest level and deserve a sustainable support system after retirement,” he said.
Christopher said the framework should extend beyond direct financial assistance to include healthcare, insurance and career transition opportunities to help former athletes achieve long-term financial independence.
“The aim should not only be to provide aid, but to help former athletes achieve long-term financial independence,” he said.
He also supported the establishment of a dedicated fund, saying its sustainability could be strengthened through government funding, corporate contributions and strategic partnerships, alongside transparent eligibility criteria.
“To ensure sustainability, it should have transparent eligibility criteria and be supported through a combination of government funding, corporate contributions and strategic partnerships,” he said.
Christopher said eligibility should take into account international representation, years of service, sporting achievements and financial need to ensure assistance reaches those who genuinely require it.
“I believe eligibility should be based on a combination of international representation, years of service, sporting achievements and financial need. This would ensure the system is fair while prioritising those who genuinely require assistance,” he said.
Under Budget 2026, RM584.9 million was allocated for sports development, including RM150 million for high-performance sports, RM120 million for preparations for the 2027 Sea Games and Asean Para Games, RM10 million for para-athletes and deaf sports, and RM280.9 million for the maintenance and repair of youth and sports facilities nationwide.
A further RM1 million was allocated for medical needs and supportive equipment for former national athletes through the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB).
The scale of the allocation has now put a sharper focus on whether future sports funding should also provide a stronger long-term safety net for athletes who have spent their careers representing Malaysia.
Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 9. – September 15, 2026