KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin - re-elected for a second term yesterday (Dec 14) - has made it clear that securing the umbrella body's finances is his main focus for now.
Shahriman disclosed that MPC needs at least RM600,000 to adequately run programmes annually and plans to work together with the corporate sector to create a sustainable income source by leveraging assets under MPC.
"We do receive an (annual) administrative grant from the National Sports Council (NSC) which we are thankful for. The NSC grant, however, is only enough to cover our staff (salaries)," said Shahriman yesterday.
"The exco and myself have gone all around Malaysia trying to raise funds to cover the rest of our expenses over the past four years. We need RM600,000 to run our programmes each year.
"The goal now is to make MPC financially sustainable so we don't have to keep asking for sponsorship and doing fundraisers.
"We have a plot of land given to us by the government to use for 30 years and we have found a company willing to work together with us to develop this land. This will help us create sustainable income for MPC.
"We have discussed this matter during the annual general meeting.
"Once we have secured sustainability, we can then think about other plans."
The land Shahriman is referring to is a 1.2 acre plot near Jalan Belfield, Kuala Lumpur.
The land is set to be developed into a recreational centre with padel and pickleball courts which are expected to generate relatively stable income for MPC.
Shahriman took the MPC reins in Dec 2019 and his outspoken approach has won him both fans, who feel that he is fighting hard for long-neglected para sports, and detractors who despise him for shaking up the sports establishment.
He defeated former NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail 14-10 in a straight fight for the president's post during MPC's annual general meeting-cum-elections (2025-2028 term) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.