PUTRAJAYA, The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) urges all sports associations to ensure that all athletes under their purview are covered by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO). Deputy Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said that social protection, especially through SOCSO, is crucial to ensure athletes are covered and protected in all aspects. He said that athletes under the National Sports Council (MSN) are currently covered by SOCSO, and this should serve as an encouragement for sports associations to follow suit. 'We strongly encourage sports associations to contribute to SOCSO, and there have been meetings where SOCSO was asked to provide information about the schemes available for athletes. 'Many athletes need to become SOCSO contributors immediately, and sports associations play a crucial role in encouraging contributions from the athletes under their purview,' he said after flagging off Khairil Aslan Ab Rasid's solo cycling expedition across Peninsular Malaysia here today. A local news portal previously reported that some football associations and clubs, as employers, have been negligent in contributing to SOCSO, and that their SOCSO registration and contribution records are usually disorganised. Adam Adli said several incidents involving athletes, such as the acid attack on Harimau Malaya and Selangor FC's winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, should serve as reminders for athletes to obtain social protection. 'Athletes, regardless of their sport, need to prioritise social protection, whether they are in high-risk sports or not,' he said. On May 5, Faisal Halim sustained fourth-degree burns on several parts of his body after being splashed with acid by an unknown individual at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya. On the case involving kayak athlete Siti Nurul Masyitah Elias, who was reported to have been seriously injured after being hit by a car driven by a man believed to be drunk in Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) heading towards Southkey here on Saturday, Adam Adli said that the ministry would a ssist the athlete in obtaining medical treatment. 'Currently, we are gathering detailed information about the incident and the athlete's condition,' he said. Source: BERNAMA News Agency