KOTA BARU: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) allocates RM 1.8 million annually to help former athletes in need.
It chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeeb said the allocation was to ensure the welfare of the former athletes are taken care and secured.
“We have never forgotten their contributions to the state and nation, and although we ourselves are short in funds, we are constantly striving to source them from various quarters.
“Among the aid we have provided include medical aid, equipment, and bereavement payments,” he told reporters at a ceremony to present wheelchairs to former athletes at Kota Darul Naim here today.
The wheelchairs for the three former national athletes hailing from Kelantan were handed over by State Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Wan Roslan Wan Hamat.
Noorul Ariffin said since it was set up 12 years ago, Yakeb has provided aid to a total of 1,745 former national athletes.
“This year alone, RM1.2 million have been spent to help our former athletes from various aspects, be it medical, equipment, bereavement costs and others.
“Each year, we get almost 100 athletes registering with us to enable them to be eligible for benefits once they retire,” he said.
Noorul Ariffin said Yakeb will be launching a fund soon to cover future expenses.
“It will be launched next month in conjunction with the National Sports Day, and besides that we will also organise a run and a golf meet to collect funds,” he said. — Bernama
