Ismail: Focus on Beijing

(From left) NSI director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz, Sports Ministry secretary Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh, Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Deputy Sports Minister Wee Jeck Seng observe P. Vikneshwaran undergoing treatment at Bukit Jalil yesterday. Pic: HASAN ISMAIL.

DATUK Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in his first press conference as Sports Minister in a packed National Sports Council (NSC) hall in Bukit Jalil, made no bones about the fact that he is serious about developing sport in the country.

Topping his agenda, the former Stadium Board chairman, was very clear that the focus will remain on winning a medal in the Beijing Olympics in August. The last time Malaysia returned with an Olympic medal was when badminton's Rashid Sidek took bronze in the men's singles in Atlanta in 1996.

Ismail reiterated that if no medals are won then the NSC and National Sports Institute (NSI) have failed in their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

"If the NSC and NSI KPI's are based on winning any medal in the Olympics, then we must prepare towards that. But should we fail, we must not be ashamed to say we failed," said Ismail.

"Very often sports officials give all sorts of excuses when they fail to deliver but still hold onto their positions. That must change.
"Officials must accept accountability for the results as I will not tolerate a blaming culture.

"If we fail we must find out why we failed. We spend a lot of money on sport and we must be accountable on where and why we spend.

"Also, I am very open to suggestions on ways to improve sport in the country."

Ismail, who also met officials of the national sports associations (NSAs) on Monday, said he had received some feed back and will look into their situations too.

But Ismail was firm when he said that looking into the youth programmes will be his priority.

"We have a huge social problem among youths which we have to solve and this is just as important as winning an Olympic medal. We must have enough sports facilities, especially in the outskirts of the big towns.

"If we expect youths to take up sports we must have sufficient facilities. I will give my attention to both areas." said Ismail.

NST