It has been slightly over a week since the Kuala Lumpur Sports Industry Expo 2022 ended.
There are already talks of a larger exhibition involving bigger brands from around the world being held next year.
The feedback from stakeholders following the recently-concluded exposition, held from Oct 6-9 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, has been generally positive.
“I told them to be honest. We wanted to know if there were any shortcomings, so that we can improve for the coming editions, but the exhibitors were happy with how the expo turned out,” said Mustaza Ahmad, the head of the National Sports Industry Secretariat.
“The participants said the expo was a good venue for them to network, make new contacts, and be visible among the decision-makers.”
Mustaza had approached several youngsters during the event and they were hoping to buy sporting goods at discounted prices.
“Our main priority was for the expo to be the meeting point for industry players, but if there’s demand for sales, we must look into this and cater to those interested in purchasing such goods.
“The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry was really supportive during the expo, and we hope to work closely with them. They can surely get the big retailers to be a part of the expo in the future.
“In fact, we are already getting enquiries about next year’s expo. This was after the (Youth and Sports) minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, said during the expo, that next year’s edition would be an international affair.”
However, the upcoming general elections in Malaysia may disrupt the secretariat’s plans of organising a bigger event.
A new minister is expected to helm Menara KBS. History has shown that new ministers often steer away from the initiatives and legacies of their predecessors, especially if they are from different political parties.
In an article published earlier today, Ahmad Faizal made a plea, hoping that initiatives carried out during his 14 months in office would continue. He stressed that efforts for a comprehensive national sports industry must “remain at the forefront of government policy.”
Ahmad Faizal’s laser focus on the sports industry is not new.
Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek saw the potential of the sports industry and promoted it during his tenure as Youth and Sports minister between 2009 and 2013. However, there was no follow-through, up until recently, leading up to the Kuala Lumpur Sports Industry Expo 2022.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia valued the local sports industry at RM18.8 billion in 2017.
In the same article, Ahmad Faizal added that the conventional wisdom, that money spent by the government on sports brought no economic returns, was “an old-fashioned view”.
“With the right emphasis on elevating the sports industry further, the returns for every ringgit spent can actually be multiplied in terms of health benefits, and economic returns to the government’s coffers,” he had said.
“Ahmad Faizal now speaks about the value of sports, and its contribution to the nation’s coffers. It shows that he appreciates and understands the value of the sports industry. It is truly hoped that the incoming minister will share the same enthusiasm,” Mustaza added.
Ahmad Faizal is now caretaker Youth and Sports Minister following the dissolution of Parliament a day after the sports expo ended. Those within the Sports Industry Secretariat regret that the Malaysian sports industry masterplan could not be brought to the Cabinet to be approved.
Officers working on the masterplan said the Cabinet’s nod was important as it would give punca kuasa (authority) to the Youth and Sports Ministry to engage with, and work hand-in-hand with other ministries to promote sports industry-related initiatives.
The plan includes the setting up of a multi-ministry committee and getting the Finance Ministry to look into tax exemptions and rebates for industry players or those wanting to invest in sports.
In getting more people involved in the sports industry and to create a sporting culture, the Youth and Sports Ministry initiated the Malaysian Sports League and other little league programmes nationwide for several sports, such as badminton, futsal, netball, sepak takraw and 3-on-3 basketball.
To date, over 200,000 people, aged seven and above, have participated in these programmes.
