SIBU: The shortlisted athlete to represent Sarawak in the upcoming 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) will be finalised by February.
In disclosing this, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu said that they will have a complete list of athletes after the 3rd Sarawak Games (Suksar), scheduled for January next year.
“We are targeting around 800 state athletes to participate in approximately 37 sports contested in SUKMA 2024,” he said when met by reporters after the opening ceremony of Sambutan Hari Sukan Negara Peringkat Negeri at Dataran Tun Tunku Bujang today (Oct 28).
When asked about the number of gold medals Sarawak aims to achieve, Rentap said the state is striving to emerge as the victor in SUKMA 2024.
“We aspire to be champions. It is a matter of pride for us, and it is Sarawak’s pride, but we require support from all quarters.
“Not only from athletes, not only from families, but from every Sarawakian. We want the entire population of Sarawak to stand behind the Sarawak team,” he added.
With more sports events being organised across the state, the Layar assemblyman also expressed hope for increased support and a larger budget allocation from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to aid in the state’s preparations for SUKMA.
“We hope for increased support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A larger budget for Sarawak, that is our request. Thus far, for SUKMA, we have received strong support from its minister, Hannah Yeoh,” he said.
The 2024 SUKMA is scheduled to occur from August 17 to 24 next year and will span eight divisions within the state, including Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, and Miri.
Previously, Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had stated that the cost of organising SUKMA was expected to surpass RM100 million.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat cum Lanang MP Alice Lau, Bukit Assek Assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, and others.
