By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 14: Greater emphasis should be placed on extracurricular activities and sports in addition to academics, according to the Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Abdul Karim said this today at a press conference following the Sports Conference for All Borneo Zones 2022, which was held at a local hotel here.
“Sports should be a culture and a way of life for everyone. Don’t put too much emphasis on academics because it’s not just about excelling in school to get into university or college.
“In the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), sports participation and extracurricular activities are given a great deal of importance.
“Therefore, if we place more emphasis on extracurricular activities and sports, parents’ mindsets will begin to change,” he said.
He noted that many parents view sports as unimportant because they do not aid their children in gaining admission to universities or colleges.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, continued by stating that the best way to enter the government sector is by focusing on academic performance, but sports and extracurricular activities should also be emphasised.
“Although there is a focus on sports these days, I believe they are more concerned with academics than extracurricular activities and sports.
“As a result, we must revisit this matter, and I hope that it is addressed at the policy, ministry, and department levels,” he added.
Earlier in his speech, Abdul Karim noted that the Sports for All Conference, which was held for the first time, is a good start in the effort to empower the culture of sports for all among the community, particularly in Sarawak, because this type of organisation can provide knowledge to sports enthusiasts, stakeholders, and sports development promoters about the importance of sports for all in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
