164 Penang athletes have been awarded RM175,377 in PACE 2025 incentives, with additional rewards for participants in the Deaf Games.
A total of 164 Penang athletes have received incentives under the Penang Athlete Career and Education (PACE) 2025 initiative, involving an allocation of RM175,377.
State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Si Zen said the recipients comprised 31 athletes under the Higher Education Institution incentive, 21 athletes awarded Sports Scholarships, two beneficiaries of the Penang Athlete Welfare Scheme, and 110 athletes under the Penang Public Sports Scheme 2030.
“These incentives reflect the state government’s continued commitment to ensuring that athlete development is carried out comprehensively, covering excellence in both sports and education,” he said.
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He added that they demonstrate the Penang government’s unwavering attention to the needs of athletes, not only during the peak of their sporting careers but also in safeguarding their well-being and future pathways.
Gooi spoke at the PACE Incentive Presentation Ceremony and the Penang Sports Excellence Incentive Scheme 2025 event.
Apart from the PACE incentives, Gooi said 19 athletes who participated in the 2025 Malaysian Deaf Games in Sarawak also received rewards under SKIMAS, amounting to RM24,800.
An incentive of RM12,000 was also presented to chess athlete Loo Pin Xie, who excelled at the 2nd Southeast Asian Deaf Games 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Gooi said the award not only reflects the state government’s appreciation of the athlete’s achievements, but also serves as motivation for them to continue improving their performance.
He added it strengthens their commitment and sustains excellence in the future.
Meanwhile, he said the state government is strengthening collaborations with various parties to ensure the state’s sports development continues to progress.
These parties include educational institutions, high-performance training centres, federal agencies and the private sector.
He said these efforts aim to provide Penang athletes with a more modern and holistic training ecosystem.
The collaboration also seeks to provide better access to quality facilities and wider opportunities to develop their skills in line with international best practices. – Bernama
