KUCHING: The Bornean states of Sarawak and Sabah ‘suffer in silence every year just to participate’ in national events held in Malaya.
Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the costs for contingents from the two states for sports events like the Malaysian Games (Sukma) or the yearly National Soccer League are significantly higher due to the need for flights for athletes, officials, and equipment.
Nevertheless, he noted that they have never raised complaints about the extra expenses.
“When Sukma is rotated among Malayan states, it’s so easy for the Kedah contingent to participate by using buses.
“But for Sabah and Sarawak, practically every year, they have to endure the extra expenses of using flights for all athletes, officials, and equipment,” he said when contacted.
Yesterday, Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor with tongue in cheek suggested that Sarawak should cover part of the costs of sending Kedah’s contingent to the upcoming Sukma.
Sanusi highlighted the high expenses, including travel tickets and equipment transportation, which are significantly higher than in previous years.
In response, Abdul Karim asserted that Sanusi’s remarks were made in jest.
“What Kedah MB Sanusi has highlighted is how the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak have to endure in any national events, including sports, whenever they’re being held in Malaya.
“He was just being humble and commenting in jest when he asked for Sarawak to cover part of the cost of sending Kedah’s contingent to the forthcoming Malaysia Games or Sukma Games,” he added.
On the same note, Abdul Karim pointed out that Kedah is a wealthy state with a thriving industrial park in Kulim, and Sanusi himself has previously mentioned that Kedah could be as developed and successful as Selangor.
As such, he said that sending a contingent to Sarawak is not a problem at all for Kedah.
He humorously remarked on Sanusi’s request, saying, “But for the Kedah MB, just a slight pain in the pocket is already appealing to Sarawak to absorb the cost.”
