KUALA LUMPUR, May 17- The strong combination of Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar and Datuk M. Saravanan in leading the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has been deemed capable of rejuvenating the ministry and bringing the sports industry to greater heights.
National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said this was because Khairy had vast experience in dealing with youths.
“Khairy has vast experience in sports and in dealing with youths. I hope he will use it to his advantage to help the council in implementing and improving sports development programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad said Khairy’s skills and ability would give advantage to the sports industry.
“We will support him and give our full cooperation in all programmes to be organised by the ministry,” he said.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said Khairy’s appointment could improve cooperation in the football arena. “We hope Khairy will give more support to football development, especially at the grassroot level,” he said.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar said the partnership between young and old blood in the ministry would spur Malaysian sports to greater heights.
National Sports Institute chief executive officer Ahmad Shapawi Ismail also opined that Khairy had various ideas that could be proposed to improve the sports industry.
Khairy, 37, who is also Umno Youth chief, was today named as the new Youth and Sports Minister, while the 45-year-old Saravanan, who is former Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, as his deputy.
– BERNAMA
