KUCHING: A delegation from Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here yesterday,
During the visit, the delegation, led by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, requested that the Song Kheng Hai rugby field be upgraded to make it more suitable to be used as a venue for rugby competitions at all levels.
The Song Kheng Hai rugby field, located at Padungan, is the only such field in Kuching and the oldest in Malaysia. It has existed since the reign of the Brooke family.
The field was donated by the Song Kheng Hai family in the 50s to Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke, who, at the time, intended to build a school and a field.
Abdul Karim, who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, informed that the state government planned to build two rugby fields at the Youth and Sports Complex here.
“It has been included in the 12th Malaysia Plan and plans to build and upgrade the fields are likely to run concurrently next year,” he said.
Also present were SRU president Richard Song Swee Jin and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee.
