Swimming champion Khiew Hoe Yean and wushu queen Tan Cheong Min are the highest-earning national athletes from the SEA Games 2025 SHAKAM incentives, with hockey receiving the largest team payout.
HOE Yean received RM32,000 for his haul of two gold, one silver, and one bronze medals at the biennial games. His golds came in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle events.
Cheong Min, the 2019 world champion, was awarded RM26,666.67 for winning two gold medals. She triumphed in the combined Nanquan, Nandao and Nangun event and the Dulilian event.
Hockey emerged as the sport receiving the highest total reward of RM316,800. This followed its success in securing three gold and three silver medals across the field, indoor, and five-a-side disciplines.
Cricket was the second-highest rewarded sport with RM247,200 for winning two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Athletics placed third, receiving RM150,000 after winning five gold, five silver, and six bronze medals while breaking three games records.
For the ASEAN Para Games 2025, two para swimmers were the highest individual recipients. Abdul Halim Mohammad received RM62,000 and Carmen Lim was awarded RM39,000.
Para athletics received the highest team incentive of RM550,800 after securing 20 gold, 22 silver, and 23 bronze medals and setting 10 games records.
Para swimming placed second with RM344,400 for 13 gold, 20 silver, and 22 bronze medals. Para cycling was third, receiving RM217,200 for nine gold, five silver, and four bronze medals.
Cheong Min described the rewards as the result of joint efforts from various parties throughout an intensive preparation period. “My competition schedule starts from July to December with the culmination being the SEA Games,” said the 27-year-old athlete.
She stated that the support came from the National Sports Council, National Sports Institute, Olympic Council of Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Malaysian Wushu Federation. Cheong Min plans to save her SHAKAM reward for future use, similar to previous incentives used to fund her undergraduate studies.
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari presented the incentives at the ceremony. The event was also attended by his deputy Mordi Bimol, ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr K Nagulendran, and National Sports Council director-general Jefri Ngadirin.
