KUCHING: The successful organisation of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak stands as a testament to the strong collaboration between various agencies in ensuring the smooth execution of this biennial sporting event.

Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, emphasised that this achievement would not have been possible without the contributions of all parties involved, including ministries, government departments, sports bodies, and volunteers.

“This edition of SUKMA is not only the largest ever held but also unique, as it involved nine divisions across Sarawak as competition venues,” he said.

He made the remarks during the MYSED Nostalgic Appreciation Dinner on Friday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim further highlighted that the dedication and commitment demonstrated by all parties, from management teams to volunteers, prove Sarawak’s capability in hosting national and international-level sporting events.

Additionally, he said that a meeting will be held with Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh, on February 26 to discuss plans for hosting larger sporting events in the future, including the 2027 SEA Games.

The meeting will focus on the development of athletes, world-class sports facilities, and strategic investments in the sports sector.

“We must prepare not just for success at the region level but also to position Malaysia as a dominant force in regional and international sports.

“This can only be achieved through close cooperation between the state and federal governments, along with relevant agencies,” he added.

Moving forward, Sarawak will continue to play an active role in national sports development by hosting the Borneo Games this year and preparing to defend its championship title at SUKMA 2026 in Selangor next year.

During the event, Dato Sri Abdul Karim also presented Excellence Service Awards (APC) to 25 MYSED officers, honoured 12 retiring officers, and recognised four officers transferring to new roles.

Also present were MYSED Deputy Minister, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, MYSED Parmanent Secretary, Morshidi Fredrick, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and Acting Director of Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), Khairul Nizam Morshidi, along with MYSED staff. -UKASnews