KUALA LUMPUR – The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has pledged that its newly proposed National Sports Endowment Fund will be free from political interference, as part of efforts to create a more sustainable and independent financing model for national sports development.
OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the fund will be governed by an independent body comprising representatives from the OCM and private industry, with potential involvement from the government still under discussion.
“Government representation is important in overseeing the fund’s operations, especially in considering tax incentives for contributors. But the fund itself must remain free from political influence,” he said after chairing the council’s 213th Executive Committee Meeting, here, today.
The fund, unanimously approved during the meeting, aims to reduce reliance on government allocations by encouraging contributions from corporations, foundations, and individual philanthropists.
It is envisioned as a long-term investment platform that will channel financial support to national sports associations (NSAs), athletes, and coaches.
“We realise the time has come for us to stop depending entirely on government funding. We need the private sector to come in,” Norza said, Bernama reported.
“This effort complements what the government has already done through the National Sports Council and the Youth and Sports Ministry. We will present the proposal to Minister Hannah Yeoh.”
He added that the fund is expected to be operational by the end of this year, or by the first quarter of next year at the latest.
Also announced during the meeting was the formation of the Olympic House Project Steering Committee, tasked with overseeing the development of OCM’s new RM93 million headquarters, slated for completion by 2028.
The committee will be chaired by OCM secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali, with Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Gerard Monteiro as deputy chair.
Other members include Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation’s Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz, and Malaysian Chess Federation’s Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi.
Norza said the committee’s role is to ensure the project is transparently and objectively evaluated throughout its progress. — July 19, 2025