KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) through the National Sports Council (NSC) is cooperating with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to intensify advocacy and consultation sessions on financial management for national athletes.
Deputy Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said these sessions were aimed at giving athletes a better understanding of taxable and non-taxable incomes.
He said the Sports Commissioner’s Office (PJS) and all national sports associations and departments would also be involved in the consultations.
“This is a matter of confusion among athletes because they do not have fixed salaries. They take part in competitions and sometimes win cash prizes of varying amounts.
“Some (prizes) are taxable and some are not, so they are not clear on what needs to be taxed,” he told reporters after opening the 2023 national-level Community Sports League Championships (LSK) here today.
He said this when asked to comment on Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria’s suggestion that NSC and LHDN work together to create awareness of the tax obligations of athletes.
According to reports, there were 243 cases of income tax arrears totaling RM15.873 million involving the sports fraternity, including athletes.
On the national-level LSK being held from today until Sunday at the Kuala Lumpur Sports City, Adam Adli said more than 60,000 people were expected to participate in futsal, netball, sepak takraw and basketball competitions.
LSK 2023 started in July with district-level events, followed by state-level competitions.
— Bernama
