KUALA LUMPUR: The Sports Ministry are looking to kill two birds with one stone through their Sports Basic Skills Training Programme (KLAS) for swimming.
Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh is hoping to reduce the number of drowning cases among children while also identifying and subsequently developing new talent via KLAS, which is aimed at children from B40 families.
Swimming is generally seen as a middle class sport in Malaysia.
"The activities we are organising are all related. The National Sports Council (NSC) focuses on high performance sports while the National Youth and Sports Department focuses more on grassroots programmes," said Yeoh today.
"We are starting with this (swimming programme) first to reduce the number of drowning cases but at the same time we are identifying new talent.
"We will then work together with the National Sports Institute (NSI) to see how we can further groom these talents.
"There are some swimmers here (KLAS) who are able to swim freestyle after only four or five classes.
"Sports such as athletics and swimming offer many medals (in international competitions) so it is important that we support these sports.
"We need to provide B40 (children) access to swimming pools otherwise we will lose the talent from this group (B40).
"I will present the findings from this programme to the High Level Committee for sports which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to get their feedback."
National swimmers were only able to win one gold from the 39 on offer at the recent Phnom Penh Sea Games.
Yeoh was speaking at the Swim Splash Academy in Kepong where the KLAS Series One programme was held this morning. A total of 288 participants from 720 registered have completed their Series One training.
KLAS is supported by Malaysia Swimmers and Swimming Coaches Association (MASWIM), Allianz Malaysia Berhad and Nestle Products Sdn Bhd.