KUCHING: Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee was recently appointed a panel member of the National Sports Management Certification Programme (KPSK) Level 1 and 2 (National Sports Council of Malaysia).
His appointment came after the completion of the workshop by the National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC) at Ancasa Residence Resort, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan last Wednesday.
Ong is also the chairman of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Coaching Education Panel (CEP) and a panel member of the National Coaching Academy.
“It is an honour for me to be appointed as panel member of KPSK by NSC and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to be involved in the preparation of the modules and curriculum of sports management at the national level,” he said.
The appointments will give Ong invaluable opportunities to work with counterparts from various sports associations in the country towards the enhancement of sports management in Malaysia and Sarawak.
The National Sports Management Certification Programme (KPSK) Level 1, 2 and 3 is open to keen sports followers and persons from sports clubs, associations, universities, colleges and government sports agencies.
Ong said sports associations should stop depending on the government for funding and instead start working towards being self-dependent.
He called on the sports associations in the state to implement professional methods and strategic planning to develop their sports.
“Good management is of utmost importance in sports today. The problems that are seen at the management level can be regarded as one of the causes of problems in sports,” he added.
The National Sports Management Certification Programme’s (KPSK) curriculum and modules are written and prepared by sports experts with vast experience in the area of sports from coaching and administration at various levels.
The course organised by the NSC’s Organisation Development Sections headed by Suhardi Alias and supported by Dato Zaiton Othman, the director of Organisation Section and Athlete Affairs, can be considered a reborn effort by NSC to upgrade the standard of sports management among Malaysians.
The last course on the subject was held in the mid 90s.
According to Suhardi, this KPSK is not a replacement of other such courses organised by Malaysian Olympic Council (MOM) or National Sports Institute (ISN) but is supplementary to them.
Malaysian sports practitioners are given a wider choice to develop their managing skills especially in sports and can then pursue other higher level sports management courses such as those organised by MOM or ISN.
“KPSK shall be a structured sports management programme to be held at three levels and the initial program is a Level I whereby those who passed will be awarded with a certificate. Level I holders will be able to manage at schools and club levels in their district. Level II is for state level while Level III is for National level,”said Ong.
Ong, who is an experienced sports science and sports management lecturer in the country and state, has been actively involved with his counterparts in West Malaysia as a panelist in determining the syllabus and charting the direction of future sports science and sports management courses for sports practitioners in the country to keep the coaching and management fraternity abreast with current developments in sport.
“As a panel member in the KPSK, I would certainly make sure that Sarawak sports practitioners especially sports associations and clubs are given the priority and chances to attend KPSK Level 1 and 2 courses.”
“At present, most of the KPSK courses are conducted in the peninsula. I am trying to schedule more KPSK courses for Sarawak beginning next year,” said Ong.