Khairy reveals his sports ministry received gambling funds

 

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin has disclosed that the National Sports Council (NSC) received funds from Sports Toto, a gambling company, during his tenure.

This was revealed in a Keluar Sekejap podcast he hosted, which discussed the recent controversy over the involvement of an alcohol company in fundraising for Chinese schools.

He explained that while the contributions were documented in Sports Toto’s financial statements, there were no formal cheque presentation ceremonies.

“It’s written in Berjaya Sports Toto’s financial statement, but there was never an official cheque presentation ceremony. I never had an event to receive a contribution cheque from Sports Toto.

“But we did receive it, and it was for health purposes as well as sports. The NSC involves all Malaysian athletes,” he said on the podcast which included co-host and former Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan.

The company Berjaya Sports Toto Berhad was renamed Sports Toto Berhad in 2022. The NSC is an agency under the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Khairy’s comments came after criticism was levied against a fundraising concert held at SJK (C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu was seen at the event holding a mock cheque which featured Tiger Beer’s logo.

The Education Ministry has since said it is retaining existing guidelines that ban schools from accepting contributions from the proceeds of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and similar activities deemed harmful to student development.

However, it said vernacular schools may still accept donations via their management boards and foundations, as has been practised in the past.

‘Schools have no choice’

Elaborating, Khairy said the funds received by the NSC went to supporting health initiatives and sports programmes for Malaysian athletes.

Being a former health minister, he agreed that overt promotion by alcohol, gambling, and tobacco companies should be prohibited in schools, citing public health concerns.

However, he acknowledged the funding challenges faced by partially aided schools, which often struggle to finance facilities like assembly halls as they receive limited government support.

“This means they can’t get money from the government to build a hall and need to get money from the public. These schools have no choice,” he added.

Khairy called for clearer government guidelines on corporate contributions to schools, particularly from contentious industries.

He noted the ongoing debate about whether such donations should be completely banned or merely restricted from public display. - Mkini