In January 2026, I wrote an article titled ‘Why Malaysia must honour its forgotten sporting heroes with pensions’.
It focused on former Olympic hockey star R Yogeswaran’s request for a monthly pension of RM1,050. The government should consider this request seriously – and approve it quickly.
I also highlighted the plight of Lisa Kwan, once known as Malaysia’s bowling queen, who faced hard times when her glory faded. But she did not dwell in self-pity. She lived alone in a small rented room and worked at a lottery outlet, earning just RM80 a day writing numbers for customers.
Left to fight alone
More recently, I read about two of our 1975 Hockey World Cup heroes: N Sri Shanmuganathan and Brian Sta Maria. They are being treated at the National Heart Institute and the University of Malaya Medical Centre respectively.
I vividly remember Sri Shan and Brian for their brilliant performances during that tournament in Kuala Lumpur. It was the finest showing ever by our national hockey team, who placed fourth.
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We proudly celebrated our hockey heroes when they stood on the podium. Now, as they battle illness, they seem forgotten.
Former national hockey player Maninderjit Singh has since pleaded with the government to set up a comprehensive welfare framework for retired athletes. He called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari, the relevant authorities and corporate leaders to urgently address the welfare of former athletes.
A call for lifelong pensions
Maninderjit lamented: “What happens when the athlete who once carried the Jalur Gemilang (the national flag) can no longer compete? What happens when age, injury, illness, unemployment or financial hardship catches up with them?”
The sports minister, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and relevant sports associations should answer these pertinent questions.
National sportsmen and sportswomen who represented the country for a minimum of five years should get a lifelong pension, just like civil servants, MPs and state assembly members. They should also receive the same medical privileges as civil servants and politicians.
They should always be treated with respect and dignity. That is the least we can do for them.
Our country should not wait until sportsmen and sportswomen are homeless, seriously ill or living in poverty. Nor should we wait until they are forced to publicly beg for help before we recognise their contribution.
If that happens, it would be a scar on our nation – and a disgrace for the people. Are we not a caring society?
A nation’s true measure
As Maninderjit, who represented Malaysia at the Olympics and World Cup, movingly said: “A great sporting nation is not judged only by how well it develops champions; it is also judged by how it treats those champions when they can no longer compete.”
Personally, I hope to see positive news in Budget 2027 for our sportsmen and sportswomen. After all, offering such support would not cost the government much.
They will be more motivated to give their best for the country if they know they have a safety net when they retire.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
