BY GABRIEL LIHAN & JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING : Sarawak is capable of hosting the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) next year and welcomes the idea of hosting it, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said he told Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh this when he met her here recently.
According to the Premier, during their meeting, the minister told him that it was very expensive to host SUKMA 2024.
So Abang Johari told Yeoh that if it was difficult for other states to host SUKMA 2024 because of insufficient funds, Sarawak was capable of doing so and looked forward to hosting the prestigious event.
The Premier shared Sarawak’s dream of hosting SUKMA 2024 when officiating at the ‘Majlis Insentif Sukan Malaysia XX, MSN 2022, Sukan SEA Hanoi, Sukan Komanwel 2022 Birmingham & Para ASEAN’ at Sarawak Chamber Ballroom, Riverside Majestic Hotel yesterday (Feb 9).
Abang Johari said if the federal government wanted Sarawak to host the Malaysia Games next year, then the state would grab the opportunity.
He also urged all athletes participating in the Malaysia Games to prepare for SUKMA 2024.
“If your brain is working, you can contribute actively, (and) if we are healthy, everything else is healthy,” he said.
Abang Johari also proposed that the SUKMA Games be held in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak and then in Sabah respectively in the future.
Elaborating further, he said that this would instil a Malaysian spirit.