KUCHING: Sports fans heading to venues for the upcoming 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) can breathe a sigh of relief regarding parking concerns.
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his ministry will engage with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to request leniency for street parking as some venues may not have sufficient parking space to accommodate the expected number of vehicles.
“We will sit down with the police to discuss leniency for street parking,” he told reporters after the activation ceremony of the SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 Command Centre held at Baitul Makmur II Building here today.
However, he urged fans to be mindful of where they park to avoid causing traffic obstructions.
“If the traffic is obstructed, I cannot blame RMP for issuing fines. You need to use your judgment to park appropriately,” he added.
He was responding to a reporter’s question about whether shuttle buses would be provided to the venues to alleviate parking issues, to which he clarified that no shuttle buses are planned at this time.
Abdul Karim noted that the total number of athletes and officials from all contingents currently stands at 10,343, representing 15 contingents — 13 states, one federal territory, and one foreign country, Brunei Darussalam.
“This number does not include the secretariat staff or volunteers, which totals approximately 17,000 people.
So, the total number of personnel involved in ensuring the smooth running of SUKMA is around 27,000 to 28,000 people,” he added.
