MELAKA, Oct 12 – The RM 20 million allocation in Budget 2020 for e-Sports next year is seen as a progressive move to develop and promote the local e-Sports industry. 

Melaka Sports Council director Arrifin Mohd Ghani said the allocation, among others, is capable of boosting efforts to unearth more new talent in the sport. 

“The sport is still considered new in the country but with this allocation and some proper planning, I believe we can develop e-Sports quicker,” he told Bernama. 

He said the council, together with the state government, were making efforts to prepare Melaka's e-Sports squad for the Malaysia Games in Johor in July next year. 

Arrifin hopes hopes the existing facility at the Ancient Galaxy Esports Hub developed in Kota Syahbandar, here, will help produce not only domestic champions but also those who excel on the global stage. 

Meanwhile, Melaka Communications, Multimedia, Youth and Sports Committee chairman, Kerk Chee Yee hopes the allocation will help the state government's efforts to develop the state players’ game and the sport as a whole. 

He said e-Sports development must also be seen in the context of software engineering, game designing, hardware manufacturing and all other related fields, besides those directly involved such as the athletes, coaches, shoutçasters (commentators) as well as technicians. 

“What we are trying to do is not just produce e-sports athletes but programmes with the right values such as how to enjoy the sport without getting dragged into online gaming addiction,” he said. 

E-Sports fan, P.Pravian, 23, said the government's allocation was a timely move, as the sport was developing rapidly and it would be such a waste if Malaysians did not grab the opportunities available. 

The third-year mechanical engineering student at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) said e-Sports was also capable of becoming a high income generating business which the young generation could venture into, instead of just playing the game merely as a hobby.  

-- BERNAMA