Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the location of the land. The correct location is Petra Jaya, not Jalan Badaruddin.
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 23: A request has been made to the Sarawak government for the acquisition of 68 acres of land in Petra Jaya, formerly the proposed site of the Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters, which will be used to expand the Sarawak Sports Complex.
According to Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, the additional land will make the complex the largest in Malaysia—further establishing Sarawak as a sports powerhouse.
He said this during the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) 2025 Appreciation Night held at a hotel last night (Feb 22).
During his speech, he also said that the Sarawak government is developing 18 mini-sports complexes in every district, which are expected to act as a vital foundation for sports development and talent scouting.
Several of these complexes, he noted, have already been completed, while others are still under construction.
“Each of these sports complexes is estimated to cost between RM15 million and RM20 million and will accommodate four to five types of sports.
“Athletes showing exceptional potential will be brought to Kuching for centralised training at the Sports Village, a dedicated facility currently under construction, to prepare them for international excellence.
“With this long-term investment, we hope to establish Sarawak as a competitive sports hub in Malaysia, producing young athletes who can bring glory to Sarawak on the world stage,” he said.
Besides preparations for the upcoming Malaysia Games (Sukma) to be held in Selangor in 2026, the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts also shared Sarawak’s potential to host international events that could benefit the economy and tourism, citing the recent success of the 2025 Cricket World Cup, which was broadcast live to 180 countries.
He urged sports associations in Sarawak to be bolder in planning and bringing large-scale sports events to the State rather than focusing solely on smaller ones—adding that the State government would support them in their endeavours.
Meanwhile, he encouraged the SSC to continue focusing on guiding athletes from urban and rural areas with the objective of producing world-class athletes capable of winning championships.
The event also saw 45 SSC staff members receiving the Excellent Service Award (APC), 22 receiving the 2024 Outstanding Service Award, and 11 retirees receiving tokens of appreciation for their contributions and dedication throughout their service with SSC.
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak permanent secretary, Morshidi Frederick; SSC acting chief executive officer (CEO) and Sarawak Sports Council (MSNS) director, Khairul Nizam Morshidi; and Ukas director, former SSC CEO, and former MSNS director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan were also present. — DayakDaily
