SHAH ALAM - Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman suggests implementing a sugar tax to generate additional funds, as sports funding plays a crucial role.
Syed Saddiq said an extra RM30 million from the sugar tax's special allocation would have been directed to grassroots sports programmes and the ministry.
However, Syed Saddiq added that the funding ceased following a change in government.
"When the government changed, I heard that this special fund from the sugar tax was stopped.
"Sports funding plays an important role because the Podium programme or any other programmes under Sports Ministry cannot survive if this allocation is reduced every year," he said.
He said this at Sinar Daily's Sports Matters podcast episode entitled 'Error In The System' today.
Consequently, Syed Saddiq said the allocation should be included in the development budget.
"Sports ministry is the first (place) where the budget will be cut, also the last ministry to get any additional allocation," he said.
Syed Saddiq said an extra RM30 million from the sugar tax's special allocation would have been directed to grassroots sports programmes and the ministry.
However, Syed Saddiq added that the funding ceased following a change in government.
"When the government changed, I heard that this special fund from the sugar tax was stopped.
"Sports funding plays an important role because the Podium programme or any other programmes under Sports Ministry cannot survive if this allocation is reduced every year," he said.
He said this at Sinar Daily's Sports Matters podcast episode entitled 'Error In The System' today.
Consequently, Syed Saddiq said the allocation should be included in the development budget.
"Sports ministry is the first (place) where the budget will be cut, also the last ministry to get any additional allocation," he said.