By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 5: The Sarawak and Sabah governments have today agreed to form an East Malaysia Sports Commission with the aim of building up their strengths to further develop and bring up sports and youths in the two Borneo states to a higher level.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Rahman Karim Hamzah revealed this after receiving a courtesy call from Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Phoong Jin Zhe in his office at the Baitulmakmur Building.
Phoong is leading a 17-member Sabah delegation on a working visit to Sarawak to learn from, exchange experience and explore approaches on matters related to sports and youth, especially in management and operations.
“We will study and fine-tune the approaches to set up the commission that would help to ease the organisation of sports not only for Sabah and Sarawak but Borneo island as a whole,” Abdul Karim told a press conference.
“We are faced with various constraints and challenges, but sports need a lot of exposure so we need to organise major sports events, be it on a regional or international level. That’s why we are setting up this commission,” he added.
With the commission, he emphasised that both states can work together and collaborate in many areas including the sharing of facilities.
Abdul Karim disclosed that there was such a sports body before this under the central government but it had been terminated and as a result, the states’ agencies or bodies had to absorb the staff who had been laid off.
“There were many talented people so we had to take them in. So we are setting up this commission in the hope that we would be able to use this as a platform to develop sports to a higher level for Sabah and Sarawak,” he elaborated.
“It (the termination) was nothing political but the restructuring exercise happened too abruptly and many people were affected,” he added.
With such a huge entourage from Sabah, Abdul Karim expressed confidence that it will further strengthen the rapport and ties not only between the state leaders but also the leadership in various agencies under the respective ministries.
“Even though (we may be) from different (political) parties, when it comes to sports and youth, we will put aside all political differences and try to work together to build a better Malaysia, youth, and (enable) our states to reach their highest potential in sports,” he said.
“On the ground we may be bitter rivals, but when we go out to meet our Peninsular counterparts, Sabah and Sarawak will always be united as one. We will always support each other. It has always been like that,” he said, emphasising the natural bond or brotherhood between the two states.
The Sabah entourage included Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Arunarnsin Taib, the ministry’s permanent secretary Neldin Gimbang, Sabah Sports Board chairman Dr Tan Kah Hock and his deputy Ir Lau Kim Swa, and Sabah Sports Council director Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor.
Sarawak Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting, the ministry’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kii, and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Ong Kong Swee were also present.
Expressing hope that the working visit will bring many benefits to Sabah especially in better management of its sports and youth, Abdul Karim pledged to reciprocate with a visit to Sabah in the near future. — DayakDaily
