By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Jan 15: Sarawak sports associations will continue to receive government grants based on their level of activity and the popularity of their respective sports, said Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development (Mysed) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“You see, support for a sports association comes from both the government and the association itself, which also seeks support from the private sector.
“In recent years, they have managed to secure backing from private companies and public-listed firms.
“Today, we see this collaboration between the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) and Yonex Sunrise, with Yonex Sunrise providing support for the SBA and the Sarawak squad,” he said, speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony between SBA and Yonex Sunrise at a hotel here today.
He explained that the size of the grants depends on a sport’s reach and level of activity, adding that popular sports such as swimming and football receive more funding due to the frequency of tournaments.
“Normally, in February or March, we will be disbursing grants to all sports bodies in Sarawak,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that the grants cover initial needs such as meetings and local events, while larger tournaments may receive additional funding upon application.
He also said that while grassroots badminton is widespread across Sarawak, upgrades to facilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis to support competitive development. — DayakDaily
