KUALA LUMPUR: Don't give them a lot of funding until they prove that they deserve it.
That is Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Sri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin's call to the Sports Ministry.
Megat's comments came following Malaysia's worst ever performance in the Sea Games.
He felt that the government should review its funding for Core sports like football, badminton and swimming following their poor results in Phnom Penh.
Megat said funding should be based on operations' expenditure, and if it is high, the government should cut it until the sport has proved its worth.
He said such practice should be adopted especially when Core sports is concerned, and it will enable other athletes who have performed immaculately to be given more support in funding.
"If the sport fails, but still get the money, then the sport will go down the drain. There must be a key performance indicator (KPI) or check and balance," said Megat.
"It should be cut-throat... if they don't make the cut, then they are out. The sport association concerned will then realise how difficult it is to get money."
The national Under-23 football team made an early exit at the Sea Games when they finished third in Group B, losing to Vietnam (2-1) and Thailand (2-0). They beat Laos 5-1 and Singapore 7-0.
The badminton players managed to get only two silver medal, through mixed doubles Yap Roy King-Cheng Su Yin and the men's team of Beh Chun Meng, Chia Wei Jie, Choong Hon JIan, Goh Boon Zhe, Kok Jing Hong, Lee Shun Yang, Leong Jun Hao, Liew Xun, Ong Ken Yon and Roy.
"And if we look at swimming, only one gold medal was produced but the sport and athletics are the biggest contributors of medals, about 65 per cent. But what happened?" said Megat.
"Cut the funding by 50 per cent, let them feel it so that results can be produced.
"Thinking big, dreaming big... but at the end of the day, we have to measure ourselves and not just talk.
"Where is this 'ibu emas' (mother of all gold medal)?…All we have is 'ibu di mana'? (where is mother)."
Megat said if he could describe Malaysia's Sea Games results in one word, it is "disgrace".
The 677-member Malaysian finished seventh in the overall medal table with 34 gold, 45 silver and 96 bronze medals. Megat said the contingent failed to win even 10 per cent of the gold medals.
"Look at Singapore, they sent about 500-plus athletes but won 51 gold, which is close to 10 per cent.
"Tthis competition is not for exposure so we can't say that's why we're sending them," said Megat.