Instant Millionaire

RM1 MILLION is what Malaysia’s Beijing Olympics gold medallist — if there is one — stands to receive from the Government.

A silver medal will be worth RM300,000 while bronze will fetch RM100,000 but it is obvious that for the Cabinet Committee for Sports, the focus of the 34 national athletes who have qualified for the Olympics should be winning gold.

Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the new incentive amount after chairing the Cabinet Committee meeting in Parliament yesterday.

In fact, it is learnt that Najib, after giving due consideration to just what the Olympics are, insisted that the Government should dangle a lucrative incentive to motivate the athletes.

It is also learnt that the initial proposal had been RM300,000 for gold, RM200,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze, still a hefty increase from the RM160,000, RM80,000 and RM40,000 on offer before.

Najib said the RM1 million should not be considered lavish as it befitted what the Olympics stand for.

“To win a gold medal is not easy because the competition is getting tougher.

“We can see that from one Olympics to another, the standard is increasing.

“We should therefore set a higher target, and provide a more attractive incentive,” Najib said.

Timesport had reported on Jan 3 this year that the Government was considering a higher incentive for Olympic medals and had suggested a RM1 million incentive for gold, especially as Malaysia is desperate to end its gold drought.

Najib obviously agrees and he cited the huge amounts other countries are offering for Olympic gold as another reason for the increase.

Singapore is offering S$1 million (RM2.3 million), as are several other countries.

Silver and bronze medallists in Beijing have also no cause to complain as RM300,000 and RM100,000 are still hefty sums.

“The Olympics come only once every four years and I don’t believe there can be any complaints about the amount we are offering.”

The Cabinet Committee also decided that team sports that win gold medals at the Olympics will see each player receiving RM150,000.

However, Malaysia will not be represented in any team sport in Beijing.

The good news didn’t end there though as the Cabinet Committee also decided to increase the monthly pension of Olympic medal winners effective next month.

“Gold medallists will receive RM5,000 a month from RM3,000 currently, silver medallists RM3,000 (from RM1,500) and bronze medallists RM2,000 (from RM1,000).”

At the moment, Malaysia has five Olympic medallists — badminton’s men’s doubles Razif and Jailani Sidek (1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medallists), Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medallists) and men’s singles Rashid Sidek (Atlanta Olympics bronze medallist).

Najib said the meeting also agreed to award incentives to national paralympic athletes — RM300,000 for a gold medal, RM200,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze.

The committee also stressed on the importance of elite athletes bolstering their mental strength.

“Mental strength is one of the factors that separates winners from the also-rans. Our athletes are of world standard in certain sports but whether they win or lose will depend on their mental strength.”
NST Online 2008/06/25

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FENDI: for a second i thought this could be good cuz rather than give 1 million to Suki(one in a million champion..huhu..) it is better we give it as incentives to our athletes if there is any gold winner.we can posibly create an instant champion..but not another instant singer. it could generate motivation for them to mapping Malaysia in the globe.

But.. after a second i realise that the 1 million they willing to give is comes from taxpayer’s money.. with increasing in fuel,and rising costs of living flash in my mind. Then suddenly i feel 1 million is very heavy amount.huhu.

However, for me, its not really a matter whether the Olympics gold medallist (if any) deserve the 1 million or not. in fact , in certain way,i find it quite reasonable for Olympics gold medallist. it just that …well you know..not every Malaysian who paying tax wants their money be contribute to gold winners(if any) . Sounds unfair to tax payer huh?

Then.. will our atheletes determine to win in the name of Malaysia? national pride? their own achievement record? or for 1 million?  ahhh.. ‘passion for sport’ we are looking is currently not available..