LAWAS: The Sarawak contingent, as the host on the Land of the Hornbills, is challenged to become the overall champion at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) XXI Sarawak 2024.
Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, expressed that the state government has high hopes for all Sarawak athletes to showcase their best performances to achieve success at this year's SUKMA event.
"With the training undertaken by the athletes and so on, I believe Sarawak teams will be able to achieve success at SUKMA and Para SUKMA this year.
"I promise that the Sarawak government will reward all athletes who bring glory to the state.
"The Sarawak government will not disappoint the athletes who have brought pride to the state; we will ensure appropriate rewards.
"The athletes will surely fight for the pride of the state and not just pursue incentives," he stated.
He made these remarks during his speech at the Opening Ceremony of the SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 Baton Relay at Taman Awam Lawas on Saturday.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, he, who also serves as Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, stated that the state government prioritises urban centers in upgrading sports infrastructure in Sarawak due to the vastness of the land.
"In each division, urban centers must have at least one large sports complex, and then other facilities will be developed at the district level and so on.
"At present, we are working on as many as 17 mini sports complexes that are in the planning and construction stages," he said.
He also called on residents around the Lawas Division to fully support the Sarawak team at SUKMA and Para SUKMA XXI 2024 to boost the athletes' spirits.
Also present were Lawas Member of Parliament Dato Henry Sum Agong, Batu Danau State Assemblyman Dato Paulus Palu Gumbang, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Operation) cum Chief Executive Officer of SUKMA and Para SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024, Datu Hii Chang Kee, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, Morshidi Fredrick, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak Sports Corporation Awang Putrayusrie Awang Reduan, and Resident for Limbang Division Unus Tambi. -UKASnews
