KUALA LUMPUR, 7 June: The Selangor Government will provide an assistance of RM30,000 to the Selangor Association of the Deaf to cover the expenses of athletes from the association that participate in the 18th Malaysia Deaf Games (SOPMA), which starts on June 13.
The Executive Councillor in charge of Welfare and Women’s Affairs, Rodziah Ismail, said that the state’s Social Welfare Department (SWD) has also sponsored two buses for the use of athletes and officials to travel to the event.
“The State Government is in the process of focusing solely on the sport because they have seen many athletes who are talented. This year, I and the Executive Councillor for Sports, Dr Yunus Hairi, plan to focus on sports for People with Disabilities (PWDs).
“So far, we have found this association to be the most active in Malaysia and the State Government will help this noble cause,” she said when met at the cheque presentation ceremony at the office of the Selangor Deaf Association at Bandar Sri Permaisuri yesterday.
She said that the success of PWDs who won silver and bronze medals at the London Paralympics 2012 should be made an example.
“Mohd Ziyad Zulkefli is the track and field athlete who won a bronze medal, while Hasihin Nawawu is the athlete who won the silver medal. We see that they have great potential and should be made an example to other athletes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state SOPMA President, T Henry Jayaraj, said that the association appreciates the contribution and hopes that the athletes will bring back medals, which in turn will bring honour to the state, with the support from the Selangor Government.
“With this support, it will boost the morale of athletes and they will strive to bring back medals,” he said.
This time, Selangor is taking part in only five events; athletics, futsal, tenpin bowling and football. The 18th SOPMA will be held in Malacca from June 13 to 20.
The SOPMA opening ceremony will be held at the Hang Tuah Stadium on June 16, while the closing ceremony will take place at the same location on June 20.
The event involves over 1,000 deaf athletes, including officials from across the country.
NS
