KUCHING: Sarawak is making significant investments in the construction of sports infrastructures and facilities with the aim of positioning itself as a sports powerhouse.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman said Sarawak is committed towards this goal and is already heading towards that aspiration.
Presently, he said, Sarawak has a comprehensive array of facilities in a single location or within a sports complex, unlike many other states in the country.
For instance, the Sarawak Sports Complex situated in Petra Jaya stands as the largest of its kind in the country. Additionally, several other facilities are either in the planning stages or already under construction.
Among these on-going developments is the near-completion of the sports village, currently about 90 per cent complete. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to construct the Wushu hall as well as rugby and cricket pitches.
“We hope all these can be completed and available for the forthcoming 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) in August,” he said at a press conference after launching Quick Fact Book 2023, Calendar of Events (COE) 2024, and the 9th Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards (2019 – 2023) here Monday.
Furthermore, adjacent to the existing Sarawak Sports Complex, the state government has given the green light for the construction of a velodrome, a facility currently absent in Sarawak’s sporting landscape.
“Once the velodrome is built, our facilities can be considered complete, and we can host various international sports events.
Moreover, in a concerted effort to stimulate interest in sports, the state government, is actively involved in the construction or planning of over 18 mini sports complexes across the state.
By constructing these mini sports complexes throughout Sarawak, he said, they can nurture many talents and much interest in sports, which one day will help Sarawak as well as Malaysia to produce more representatives for national and state competitions.
“God willing, one day we hope to see gold medallists in the Olympics coming from the Land of the Hornbills.
“That’s why the government has approved the construction of many integrated mini sports complexes throughout Sarawak, each of which contains between two and five types of sports arenas, including futsal, football, and so on,” he said.
He also said Sukma’s inclusion of 37 sports across nine divisions marks a significant milestone. Despite the logistical challenges, the spin-offs and multiplier effect, particularly on the hospitality industry, are expected to be immensely beneficial.
Karim reiterated its far-reaching impact; expressing confidence that the event would garner widespread support from Sarawakians, contributing to the achievement of their overarching objectives.
“This serves as yet another testament to our commitment to fostering community engagement and showcasing Sarawak’s sporting prowess,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor and Business Events Sarawak’s (BE Sarawak) Amelia Roziman were among those present.
