By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, March 5: The Sarawak government has promised incentives to e-sports athlete Ibnuqaldoon Mohamad Shukor if he brings home a medal.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg noted that the 20-year-old from Kampung Lalang, Gedong will be the first Sarawakian to represent the Malaysia e-sports team at the Southeast Asian (Sea) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May.
He secured his slot in the e-sports event Free Fire, a multiplayer battle royale mobile game.
“If (Ibnuqaldoon) performs well like our national diving queen Dato Pandelela Rinong Pamg and powerlifters Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and Jong Yee Khie, we will give incentives to him once he secures a win in the Games,” he said after launching the Sarawak X-Tive 2022 programme held at Datuk Patinggi Ali Hall in Gedong today.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the State Cabinet has yet to discuss the incentives.
“However, we do provide assistance in the form of allowance to Sarawakian athletes who will represent Malaysia or the State.
“If they secure podium finishes, there will be separate incentives similar to when we awarded Bunyau after he won the gold medal in the Men’s 72kg at the Tokyo Paralympics last year,” he said at a press conference after the event.
He also mentioned that each athlete’s incentives would differ depending on the categories they participated in and the medals they won.
Meanwhile, Ibnuqaldoon said he is proud to have been selected as the first Sarawakian to represent Malaysia for the e-sports event at the Sea Games.
He also advised his peers not to give up, as he has proven that a rural boy like him could make it into the national team. — DayakDaily
