27 Penang SEA Games and Para Games athletes receive cash incentives

GEORGE TOWN: Twenty-seven athletes from Penang who won gold medals at the 29th SEA Games and 9th Asean Para Games received cash incentives from the Penang state government today.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng presented the incentives to all athletes during a simple ceremony at his office in Komtar.
The incentives were part of a reward programme under the Penang State Sports Incentive Scheme (Skimas) for Penang based athletes who excel in sports.
Under the scheme, the athletes receive 30% of the amount that they received under the National Sports Incentives Scheme (Shakam).
Under Shakam, athletes are rewarded RM20,000 for their first gold at the games followed by RM10,000 for subsequent gold medals.
According the the National Sports Council (NSC) website, team sports with less than five players also receive RM20,000 while those with more than five receive RM5,000 per person for gold.
A total of 22 athletes who won gold medals in the SEA Games received a total of RM86,000 while five athletes who won gold medals in the Asean Para Games received a total of RM53,500.
Lim in his speech said he is happy and proud with the success of the Penang based athletes.
"Thank you for making Penang proud and make all of us happy," he said.
Lim also vowed the state government will improve sports facilities in the state in the near future so that sports excellence will continue.
Forty-one Penang athletes took part in the SEA Games and won 22 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze medals while 16 athletes took part in the Asean Para Games to win 12 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals.
The 29th SEA Games held in Kuala Lumpur in August was won by the Malaysian contingent with its 145 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze medals.