KUCHING: Volunteers for the just concluded 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Sarawak gained tremendous recognition as a crucial element in overseeing the competition smoothly until the end.
Norhafizah Yusof, a government employee here, who had grabbed the opportunity to contribute as a volunteer for SUKMA in Betong understood and acknowledged that the competitions required a high level of commitment from volunteers every time the event took place.
“The compensation for volunteers is not substantial, yet most volunteers remain loyal and sincere with the responsibilities given, even when some instructions require physical exertion and can be quite exhausting,” she said.
Hailing from Labuan, her first experience with a sports event was at SUKMA Sarawak, where she cherished her role in ensuring the smooth operation of the weightlifting competition at Dewan Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Betong, from Aug19 to 23.
Meanwhile Dollyiana Jerome, 24, a student from Betong is affectionately known as the ‘Mascot Mother’ for Mascots Satria and Satrina, due to her meticulous handling of the mascots.
“I am known as the mother bird or ‘Indai Burung Kenyalang’ in Iban because I manage the mascots from the competitions to the prize presentation at the podium.
“No matter what happens while on duty, I am very proud and happy to have had the chance to volunteer for this SUKMA event. We volunteers are always in a ‘happening’ mode to reduce work stress,” Dollyiana said when asked how she earned this title.
She added that managing mascots is a challenging task, as they must always be kept in good condition, and many volunteers struggle with the hot weather along with physical strain required to move the heavy mascots.
“Even though only an hour is allocated for each volunteer as a mascot, being in a hot costume and sweating necessitates frequent shifts to avoid health risks.
“Resilience and emotional patience are crucial for me, especially when handling situations where the mascot is encircled by the public, which can result in the mascot falling or getting displaced from its intended position,” she said.
Regardless of the challenges encountered she took great pride and joy in having the opportunity to volunteer for this SUKMA event with consistent lively and positive attitude to alleviate work-related stress.
“I also urge everyone, especially the youth, to participate as volunteers in future events or competitions. Don’t be shy or hesitant; you will truly appreciate the rewarding experience,” she said.
A similar sentiment was shared by Catherina Allexander, a general volunteer of Iban descent, who believes that while volunteering demands sincere adherence to the event instructions, it is also crucial to consistently attend to the volunteers’ welfare.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Junting reflects on her experience as the head volunteer for the venue section, where she was tasked with ensuring cleanliness throughout the venue and its surrounding areas, including the dining area, carnival section, and outside the hall.
“Despite being entrusted with various responsibilities, I was still excited to be part of the SUKMA staff and did not expect payment,” she said as she frequently participates in charity and welfare work.
She said during the event, some volunteers faced flooded homes, but this did not dampen their spirit as they continued to show up and volunteered the following day despite the challenges.
“The main challenge we faced was the long distance between our homes and the venue, which took two hours for a round trip just to be part of the SUKMA volunteers this time,” she said.
The two-hour journey back and forth from Pusa did not deter Abang Alif Abang Raduan, 26, civil servant from contributing to SUKMA in Betong, as he also managed to balance his regular duties with his volunteer responsibilities.
On the other hand, Lina Lee, 41, civil servant, a volunteer of Chinese, Melanau, and Iban descent, sees this as an opportunity to build new and close relationships among volunteers through a strong team spirit and mutual cooperation.
“We have become like a family in such a short time because we spent so much time together, sharing the burdens and joys.
“But now that SUKMA is coming to an end, we will return to our daily routines as before,” Lina said with a sad tone.
If Sarawak has the opportunity to host SUKMA or any other sports event in the future, those interested in becoming volunteers should seize the opportunity without hesitation or shyness.
