USM PENANG, 11 February 2020 – The Malaysian government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports is committed to put more focus towards the development of sports at the grassroots level, says Youth and Sports Minister, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

"We have increased the budget from RM15 million to RM45 million to develop grassroots talents, and it includes empowering women in football.

"We want to ensure sports is inclusive, not only for all races, but also for both genders.

“My ministry will be empowering women in football, equally as men. Women deserve equal funding and support," he said.

He added, “We hope that with the increased budget and adopting a holistic approach to management, it will boost the participation of Malaysians for the benefit of our community wellness and sporting success.”

Syed Saddiq was at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) stadium last Sunday to launch the 2020 Penang Football Academy League (Liga Akademi Bolasepak Pulau Pinang 2020, LABPP).

Mock cheques worth RM32,000 were handed over for the league, among them RM12,000 from the state government.

Those who were present at the launching ceremony also had the privilege to watch a friendly match between Syed Saddiq’s Selection against the MUFA-USM team led by USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan.

The match ended with Syed Saddiq’s team narrowly defeating the Vice-Chancellor’s team 1-0.

Two other teams that took part in the quadrangular friendly tournament were JBS Penang and LABPP-FAP.

Among those who were also present at the launch and took part in the football tournament were Penang Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee representing the Penang Chief Minister; Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Dato’ Hj. Mohd Rashid Hasnon; Penang Football Association (FAP) President Dr. Amar Pritpal Abdullah; LABPP President Yusri Abd Hamid; several Penang state EXCO members; and USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Institutional Development) Professor Dr. Md Roslan Hashim.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa