BY GABRIEL LIHAN & JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING : Developing Sarawak into a global sports power is Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s next goal.
The Premier said that in due time, sports facilities in Sarawak could be upgraded to international status.
“Give us time. Soon, our stadiums, and our fields will be in much better conditions,” he said, adding that Sibu had some of the best badminton courts in the state.
Abang Johari also emphasised that the next generation of athletes should be trained not just for the Malaysia Games but also the next Olympics.
“For SUKMA, we will continue to grow and develop sports in Malaysia because we have the Malaysian spirit.
“Because of that, we need to improve the quality of our athletes. We have Datuk Pandelela Rinong and Bonnie Bunyau,” he said when officiating at ‘Majlis Insentif Sukan Malaysia XX, MSN 2022, Sukan SEA Hanoi, Sukan Komanwel 2022 Birmingham & Para ASEAN’ at Sarawak Chamber Ballroom, Riverside Majestic Hotel yesterday.
Abang Johari added that many of the state’s athletes had reached the international level.
He revealed that Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah recently visited New Zealand to look at its training facilities.
“New Zealand with a population of 5 million is able to produce Olympians due to the sporting spirit and proper training facilities,” he said.
Abang Johari explained that it was not impossible for Sarawak to produce athletes of Olympic calibre.
With its population of about 2.8 million, the state should be capable of producing at least 10 athletes who could compete in the Olympics, he said.
“We train the young athletes not to aim for just SUKMA but to also to be Olympic champions,” he said.
Also present at the event were Deputy Ministers for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Dr Ripin Lamat; Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, permanent secretary to the Ministry for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Morshidi Fredrick and other distinguished guests.
