KUCHING: The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) has always taken pro-active steps for effective execution of training programmes.
It has always been open and above board when it comes to paying out training allowance on time to prevent any inconvenience or hiccups to preparations which at the same time involved paperwork to make sure that payments are paid accordingly.
MSNS director Dr Ong Kong Swee, without referring to any sports associations in particular, said as far as the MSNS is concerned, they will carry out the payments as soon as possible when it is ready.
He was referring to the training allowances for athletes who have won medals in the 2016 Sukma and still eligible for the next Sukma in 2018.
“The process of payment involves paperwork and there are standard operating procedures (SOP) that need to be followed before we release the allowances. Once we receive the letters from the associations to make sure the right athletes who deserved such payment receive theirs.
“We also send direct to the athletes’ accounts, for in the past we sent to the associations and this has caused delays and other hassles which we want to cut out,” said Ong who is also Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO.
“Also, we are now in the process of clearing out all the payments involved in the last Sukma held here and the process may take a little more time,” he added.
Pleading patience to any sports associations which may face some interruptions regarding their payments, he said he had personally clarified with the officials of some associations over the matter and so far there had been no misunderstanding or issues arising.
He explained that allowances are banked directly into the athletes’ bank accounts and an association may not know if the athlete has got his or her training allowance until the athletes notify their respective associations.
With this direct-into-account procedure, the parents and athletes concerned will have first knowledge. This is to lessen complaints of delay or inconvenience caused.