Budget 2025: Sports entrepreneur suggests tax deductions for contributions from private companies

SIBU (Oct 10): All contributions made by private companies to registered sporting associations should enjoy tax deductions, suggests sports entrepreneur Dr Gregory Hii.

Currently, he said, tax deductions are limited to contributions made by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to approved institutions.

“This is not fair and will discourage private companies to make contributions to sports bodies,” he said on his wishlist for the tabling of the Budget 2025.

Additionally, Hii expressed his encouragement at the government’s attention on addressing important issues, including lifestyle changes, sin-tax, environmental degradation, and corruption in the upcoming budget.

He was particularly pleased that obesity will be addressed at the top level government with the aim of reducing the percentage of overweight people, who make up more than 50 per cent of the population.

“From the relatively low level of 30-40 per cent, this issue has grown to the watershed 50 per cent, and if it is not effectively dealt with, the rate may even touch higher,” he said.

Hii added that in an effort to tackle obesity among students, the government should allocate grants to both publicly funded and private schools, along with special annual fund for sporting activities.

“My company Delta Leasing Bhd, in collaboration with SMK Sacred Heart and supported by Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, would hold awareness programmes to encourage students to stay fit and healthy by exercising and participating in sports or outdoor activities,” he recalled.

“Any school that manages to reduce the body mass index (BMI) among students to a predetermined level should be acknowledged or rewarded.”