Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong questions why fitness coaches couldn’t go to gyms to conduct video streaming of their sessions for their trainees or customers.
A total of RM20 million was allocated to the scheme for loans to those in the sports industry, through Tekun Nasional and Bank Rakyat. “Clearly, the scheme has failed to help the industry weather the economic challenges caused by Covid-19,” Sim said in a statement today. Among his suggestions was for the government to provide a monthly subsidy of up to 50% for the monthly rent, or a maximum of RM5,000, to businesses in the sports industry that were ordered to close throughout the various lockdowns.
“A special one-off grant of RM2,000 must also be given to help the sector, which has been severely affected since March last year. “The RM100 million is only about 10% of the ministry’s budget and it would not be excessive to use to rescue the industry at a time when many of the ministry’s programmes can’t be run this year,” Sim said.