Sarawak aims to become Malaysia's sports powerhouse

Sarawak is poised to become the country's sports powerhouse sooner than expected, if the hard work continues.

“Together we can achieve the “greatness in sports” if we can commonly embrace and share that vision together with all our local sports associations, our sportsmen and sportswomen,” Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said in his speech at Sarawak Sports Award 2015/2016 presentation ceremony Saturday night.

Abdul Karim is a firm believer in the vision because Sarawak has achieved this previously when it emerged as SUKMA champion for three consecutive outings in 1990, 1992 and 1994.

“We were almost there in last year’s SUKMA but the key driver in achieving our sports powerhouse dream is to continue working hard to become the strongest and the best there is in the competition arena,” he added.

Abdul Karim said his ministry is working together with the Sarawak Sports Corporation and Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak to focus on training and motivating the athletes.

“There is nothing impossible in sports and games. Together we have seen so many new sports records had been set while the record breakers themselves are still teenagers.

“For us in Sarawak, we have record breakers and even in the recent KL SEA Games we have seen how Sarawak athletes achieved that,” he said.

Thirteen out of the 145 gold medal haul in the recently-concluded KL SEA Games 2017 were clinched by Sarawak athletes.

The minister added that the revival of Sukan Sarawak (SUKSAR) was one of the state government’s initiatives to further boost Sarawak’s position as the sports powerhouse in the country.

The last time SUKSAR took place was 26 years ago, hence its revival is seen as timely.

The multi-sports carnival is expected to be the largest in Sarawak and most importantly it will serve as a good avenue for athletes to showcase their talents.

Abdul Karim also urged all sports associations to give their fullest support to SUKSAR scheduled to be held from December 14 to 17, 2017 in Kuching.