By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 9: Sarawak must emerge as the overall champion if the region is to host the next Sukma and Para Sukma Games in 2024.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised that such results are only obtainable if all stakeholders including athletes as well as sports bodies and organisations start planning and training now.
“I don’t want Sarawak to be the second or third best. If we are to host the games, we want to be overall champion for Sukma and Para Sukma 2024.
“Come 2024, we will take up the challenge (to host Sukma and Para Sukma Games) and that is the time we will show to all the other states in Malaysia that Sarawak is the best,” he said when addressing the ceremony to present incentives to Sarawak’s athletes for their achievements in 2021 and 2022 by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg held at a hotel here today.
With the strong leadership of Abang Johari that has resulted in Sarawak recording the best financial performance in 2022, Abdul Karim said if Sarawak is able to emerge strong politically and economically, it should also be reflected in sports management.
Calling all athletes, para athletes and sports organisations to pull up their socks and start training, he pointed out that there is a high likelihood that Sukma 2024 will come to Sarawak as Johor which was supposed to host the Games in 2024 as well as other states in Malaysia have expressed an unwillingness to do so.
“After going through the Covid-19 pandemic and general election, many states feel they will have problems hosting the Games. Everyone is looking toward Sarawak which I feel proud of.
“I have told the Sukma Central Committee that we are willing to host the Games but we will need the support of the Premier and Sarawak Cabinet. I have given them one month, unless and until no other State is willing to take up the challenge, we will take up the challenge,” he said.
Even though Sarawak did not achieve its goal in the last Sukma Games including Para Sukma Games which Sarawak lost the championship to Sabah after so many years, Abdul Karim urged Sarawak athletes to keep up their fighting spirit and the desire to achieve success in any sport events to be held these two years.
“My hope as well as that of our Premier, Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and other sports organisations is for you to push harder to become better athletes and have the will and ambition to be successful,” he added.
Abang Johari later presented incentives totalling RM710,210 to Sarawak’s medal winners.
This included RM510,250 to Sukma athletes, RM109,000 to Para Asean Games athletes, RM68,000 to SEA Games athletes and RM23,000 to Commonwealth Games athletes including world record breaker powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who received RM8,000 for winning a gold medal.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Sport Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development Ripin Lamat were among those present. — DayakDaily
