By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 30: Sarawak’s ability to host the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games should not be underestimated, asserts Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Abdul Karim said that Sarawak possessed extensive experience in organising international sporting events.
He expressed confidence that, with meticulous planning, Sarawak is more than capable of handling the scale and complexity of the SEA Games.
Speaking to reporters during a rehearsal for the 2026 New Year Countdown at the Kuching Waterfront yesterday (Dec 29), he noted that preparations are being informed by lessons learned from previous host nations.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts (MTCP), recently led a ministerial delegation to Bangkok to observe competition venues and the general management of the Games, including the opening ceremony.
“I believe we can hold it like what was held there, and possibly even better than that
“We also saw issues and problems at the initial stage of the competition, such as food, transportation and others,” he said.
The Minister further explained that sports facilities across Sarawak are currently undergoing continuous upgrades to meet international competition standards. These improvements, alongside event organisation costs, amount to hundreds of millions of ringgits.
He added that the Sarawak government has already allocated RM350 million specifically for the staging of the 2027 SEA Games.
Abdul Karim emphasised that this investment reflects Sarawak’s long-term commitment to developing the sports sector and solidifying the State’s reputation as a premier host for major international events. — DayakDaily
