KUCHING: Public awareness of the importance of sports should be increased because the overall involvement of the people in sports is still at a moderate level, said Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Minister felt it is also important to make sports as part of one’s lifestyle and culture.
“There needs to be a change in policy. Academic excellence is heavily stressed while there is less focus on sports and curricular achievements.
“This is why we should also focus on involvement and achievement in sports and curricular because if more emphasis is given, the parents’ mindset will also change to some extent. We will need to have an in depth look into this matter,” he said.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, was speaking to the media after officiating at the Sports Conference for All Borneo Zones 2022 at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre, here today.
He said the sports conference held for the first time in the state, is a good start to empower the sports culture for all communities, especially in Sarawak.
“By organising such a conference, it can provide awareness to sports enthusiasts, stakeholders and sports development bodies on the importance of sports,” he added.
One hundred individuals from various state and federal government agencies, public and private institutions, sports promoters and bodies, attended the one-day conference.
Some of the participants are from Sabah and Labuan.
The conference featured presenters, namely Dr Malvern Abdullah, senior lecturer from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Campus; Asmalini Che Abu Shafie, head of sports and science recreation centre UiTM Sarawak Campus; and Hafyqri Kameri of Sarawak Sport Corporation (SSC), who presented their papers on the respective issues relating to sports development.
