KUANTAN: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is targeting Malaysia to become a "Sporting Nation" by 2025, with a Malaysia Sports Culture Index (IBSM) score of over 75 per cent.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the overall IBSM achievement for 2021 was 52 per cent, which showed that the involvement of the people in sports activities was still at a moderate level.
"Our aim is for the score to be increased to a better level each year, with each year's index increase monitored through relevant agencies for the upgrading of any sports-related activities," he said after launching the national-level 1,000 League Programme at the Darul Makmur Stadium here today.
The success in achieving the index target would also, according to Ti, ensure better health for the people, besides making sports as an industry that provides opportunities and careers in the related fields.
The 1,000 League Programme is also one of the initiatives to increase and expand sports activities to the community level which, it is hoped, will raise the IBSM score towards achieving the "Sporting Nation" target.
The programme, which began in August, involves the organisation of sports events like table tennis, badminton, taekwondo and archery, which are targeted to attract the participation of 100,000 Malaysians overall at all three levels.
Of the 1,000 leagues, 854 will be at the district level, state level (120 leagues) and national level (26 leagues) and, of the total, only 30 per cent have been held.--BERNAMA