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THE gauntlet has been thrown to national track back-up squad coach Fairoz Izni Abdul Ghani as the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) track committee is looking at his charges to shine in the Asian Championships this year.
KUALA LUMPUR: Cycling will go on a faster track to win more honours for the country if a plan to give greater emphasis on sports in school is carried out effectively.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamed welcomed yesterday the Education Ministry’s proposal to review the education curriculum to place more importance on sports.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, said that he wanted students to strike a balance between studies and sports.
For the past years, cycling has not been included as part of the national schools (MSSM) calendar.
Naim said that he was happy with the proposal because the MNCF had hit the wall many times in their bid to promote cycling in schools.
“This is the most important step towards developing sports. For us, it will be an answer to our prayers,” said Naim.
“After trying for so many years to establish cycling as part of the MSSM calendar, this is something that we will accept with open arms.
“Cycling was finally accepted as an MSSM sport this year but unfortunately, the programme will only be carried out next year.”
Naim added that cycling had been sidelined due to the lack of expertise and concern over the safety of the students.
“But we are ready to train the teachers. We are also ready to take safety precautionary measures.
“We can host the events on the track instead of on the road,” he said.
Naim said that the impact would be significant if cycling were given emphasis in schools.
“We have achieved a lot even when cycling was on the sidelines as far as school sports were concerned. Imagine what we could have done if schools have cycling teams just like football, hockey and badminton,” he said.
Currently, cycling is one of the three sports under the 2012 Road to London (Olympics) programme. Their stars include Azizul Hasni Awang, Josiah Ng, Rizal Tisin, Mohd Edrus Yunus and Fatehah Mustafa.
Naim also said that the move to give sports prominence was also expected to be a tool to build the nation.
“Sport is also an element that can fuel the spirit of patriotism within us. And if it is given its due standing in schools, it will certainly help with unity and teamwork among our children,” he said.
THE reaction was one of delight and hope as national sports associations
(NSAs) applauded Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's
determination to make sports in schools a priority again.
Most, if not all, NSAs can claim that part of the reason for their
non-performance is due to the exam-oriented schools structure but with
Muhyiddin - who is also Education Minister - in their corner, they are
hopeful of a change.
"IT is the most important step towards developing sport in any country.
For us, it will be an answer to our prayers.
After trying for so many years to establish cycling as part of the MSSM
calendar, this is something we will accept with open arms.
Sport is also element that fuels that patriotic desire within all of
us, and by making it a priority in schools, it helps with nation
building."
Datuk Naim Mohamad
Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president
"I TOTALLY endorse and support this effort as it is in sync with what I
have been saying and trying to make happen for the last 10 years. Schools
are where athletes are found and developed into world-class level."
Datuk A. Sani Karim
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia president
"THIS move is long overdue. The structure of sports in schools is not
up to the mark. Nowadays there aren't school tournaments, only carnivals
and festivals, and this is not the way to develop sports."
Datuk Dr S. S. Cheema
Malaysian Hockey Federation vice-president
"AN excellent start, but it will not take off if there is no
co-operation and understanding with the national sports associations,
Olympic Council of Malaysia and the Sports Ministry.
They (Education Ministry) cannot do it alone, and need partners who
have the expertise to deal with sports.
The OCM would like to see the facilities in schools fully utilised,
even during weekends, and not just hold carnivals to complete fixtures.
And the other important factor is to pay good allowances to sports
teachers so that they will forget about teaching tuition after school,
and instead be on the field for longer periods, and also during weekends.
The concept should not be only to produce elite athletes, but sports
for all when schooling."
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar
Olympic Council of Malaysia president
"IT'S a good move because it is easier to develop while athletes are
still young. For karate, the exponents mature as they get older so once
they have reached a certain age, it becomes difficult to develop their
talent."
Clement Soo
Malaysian Karate Federation honorary secretary
|
Naim Mohamad |
KUALA LUMPUR – Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) memuji saranan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang mahu menggerakkan usaha secara besar-besaran bagi menghidupkan semula aktiviti sukan di sekolah-sekolah.
Presiden MOM, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar berkata, ia satu usaha yang memang dinanti-nantikan terutama dalam menggalakkan pembangunan berterusan di peringkat akar umbi.
Bagaimanapun tegasnya, Kementerian Pelajaran tidak boleh melakukannya sendirian sebaliknya perlu menjalinkan kerjasama rapat dengan pihak terbabit yang lain.
“Kementerian Pelajaran perlu mewujudkan koordinasi dengan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, MOM dan persatuan-persatuan sukan.
“Ini bagi memastikan perancangan dapat dilakukan secara menyeluruh dan berkesan agar dapat mencapai matlamatnya.
“Saya percaya sebagai bekas menteri yang pernah menerajui kementerian berkaitan sukan, beliau (Muhyiddin) tentunya faham dengan apa yang hendak dilakukannya,” kata Tunku Imran.
Beliau berkata demikian selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Lembaga Eksekutif MOM di sini, semalam.
Menurutnya lagi, beberapa faktor perlu diambil kira Kementerian Pelajaran dalam melaksanakan usaha itu antaranya mendedahkan sekolah dengan sains sukan, memaksimumkan kemudahan sukan di sekolah dan tidak hanya mengadakan karnival sukan setahun sekali sahaja.
“Yang paling penting pihak kementerian perlu menyediakan bajet secukupnya untuk diberikan dalam bentuk elaun kepada guru yang terbabit sebagai dorongan menjadi jurulatih di sekolah-sekolah,” tegasnya.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Presiden, Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM), Datuk Naim Mohamad berkata, usaha Muhyiddin itu memang tepat pada masanya ketika sukan negara semakin bergerak ke hadapan.
“Banyak masalah yang timbul sebelum ini walaupun perbincangan demi perbincangan dilakukan antara persatuan dengan Majlis Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM).
“Dengan adanya usaha seperti ini, saya percaya segala halangan yang wujud dapat diatasi untuk melahirkan lebih ramai bakat-bakat baru,” ujar Naim.
Menurutnya, antara masalah utama yang timbul ialah dari segi pelaksanaan dan kebimbangan pihak sekolah tentang keselamatan pelajar-pelajar mereka.
“Saya percaya dengan pengumuman terbaru daripada Kementerian Pelajaran ini, satu mekanisme dapat dicari untuk mengatasi masalah dari segi pelaksanaan ini,” jelasnya.