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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Aug 28: About 1,700 students from 43 schools nationwide are taking part in the 10th Malaysia Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS) Ball Games Championships held from August 27–31.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants participants to build and develop their character through sports and to excel in them.
Abdul Karim said the championship is where participants can show their fighting spirit to do their best through sports and at the same time, broaden their knowledge by learning from one another through camaraderie.
“This will make you a better person and the person you will be, through sports,” he said in his welcoming remarks during the launching of the championship which is being held for the first time in Sarawakm at DeTAR Putra Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) yesterday evening.
Abdul Karim said that the Sarawak government supports the Chinese education system as well as recognises the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) in the State.
“So we not only support Chinese education but (also) in such championships (like this) that is being organised, as we too want to be a sports powerhouse in the country,” he added.
Abdul Karim, who also is the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, said Sarawak did not mind hosting events like this all the time as it is good for youth development in sports and the State’s tourism.
He hoped that the approximately 60 per cent of the participants who are visiting Sarawak for the first time will get to experience what Sarawak has to offer during their short stay, in terms of culture, food and the State’s multi-ethnic communities which live together in unity and harmony.
Meanwhile, United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia chairman Tan Tai Kim applauded and acknowledged the Sarawak government’s continuous commitment to supporting Chinese schools in the State and also such championships.
He revealed that organising national sports events is always challenging for Chinese independent schools given their limited resources and the demand for significant manpower, materials and financial support to run these events.
Tan hoped all parties would support the development of sports in Chinese independent schools and thanked the Sarawak government for allocating RM200,000 for the championships.
His remarks were echoed in the speech by Sarawak United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management president-cum-event organising chairman Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau Lee Ming who wants to develop youth in Chinese independent schools throughout the country through sports.
The championships will feature four sports—basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis. It is being organised by Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No. 2, No.3 and No.4.
Stampin Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen, Batu Kitang assemblymen Lo Khere Chiang, and Federation Of Chinese Associations of Sarawak president Dato Richard Wee Liang Chuat were among those present. — DayakDaily
