By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 2: The RM13.9-million new Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre in Sibu Jaya Township will provide a much needed athletics and recreation space to inspire and discover more world-class athletes in Sibu like diver Dato Pandelela Rinong, sprinter Watson Nyambek and weightlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
Amcorp Group Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim hopes to see more sporting events, be it inter-city, inter-state or even national-level meets, brought into Sibu Jaya with the opening of this Community Sports Centre.
“This will encourage more economic activities within our township for economic growth.
“We also hope that along the way, new sports talents will be discovered and developed within Sibu Jaya itself. We already know that Sarawak is not short of its own world-class athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen like Malaysian diver Dato Pandalela Rinong, Malaysian sprinter, Watson Nyambek aka ‘The Flying Dayak’ and Malaysian paralympic weightlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
“It is my hope that with various sports facilities, the people of Sibu Jaya, young and elderly alike, will make sports and a healthy lifestyle their priority,” he said.
Azman highlighted this at the launching of the Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre as well as the 6th Special Olympics Sarawak by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in Sibu yesterday (July 1) via Ukas’ live broadcast.
Azman also noted that the SMK Sibu Jaya weightlifting team bagged 15 gold and 10 silver medals during the 2019 Sarawak Sports Games.
“Perhaps, they and future generations will be able to excel to international levels in the future with this Community Sports Centre,” he added.
Donated by Yayasan Azman Hashim, this full fledged Community Sports Centre has multiple indoor and outdoor facilities including a football field, an eight-lane IAAF athletic track, suitable for long jump, discuss and hammer throw and petanque, and complete with comfortable covered seatings for spectators.
Along with these, there is also a separate multipurpose indoor stadium that can house multiple sporting activities from basketball, futsal, volleyball, badminton and even gymnastic meets.
Meanwhile, Amcorp Group started developing Sibu Jaya in 1995, some 27 years ago. To date, there are more than 6,000 homes built and occupied, and approximately 300 commercial shophouses in operation to provide convenience and services not only for Sibu Jaya residents but also those further away in rural areas of Kapit, Kanowit, Selangau, Durin and others.
Azman also expressed thanks to the Sarawak government for their continuous support in bringing in so many amenities such as schools, police station, hospital, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, library, mosque, as well as many new roads and highways being built for the benefit of Sibu Jaya which has a population of about 30,000 today.
“I am so happy to be back here tonight to fulfil our promise to the people of SibuJaya. Kudos to the construction team, consultants and the sports specialist involved. Without their unfettered determination, the completion of this project would be seriously delayed.
“I would also like to thank Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Well Being Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister and Special Olympic Sarawak vice chairman Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai for arranging the 6th Special Olympics Sarawak State Games to mark the official opening of this Sports Centre.
“I would also like to record special thanks to all the relevant authorities, ministries, past and present Adun of Sarawak, and the people of Sibu Jaya, who have all strongly supported the growth of this township,” he said in his thank you message.
Amongst those present were the Premier’s wife Datuk Amar Jumaani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing and acting State Secretary Datuk Mohamad Abu Bakar Mardzuki. — DayakDaily
