KUCHING: The Sarawak contingent is aiming to emerge champion at the 19th Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Perak next year.
In fact, earlier preparations are made by the state contingent athletes to face SUKMA next year and are running smoothly, said Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at a ‘Gawai Raya with Media Nite’ organised by Sarawak Sports Corporation and Sarawak Sports Council at Grand Margherita Hotel near here on Friday.
He also commended the efforts of the media in covering last year’s SUKMA held in the state.
“In addition to SUKMA, the media also gave widespread coverage in the sports tournaments we have been organising lately.
“This is in line with our efforts to lift Sarawak as a sports powerhouse,” he said, adding that due to the wide coverage of the media, sports events organised in the state also received encouraging response from the public,” he said.
Karim added that sports also can be considered as a tourism event as they are able to attract sport enthusiasts, players and sport-related industry to come to the state.
He also disclosed that he planned to bring various sports events to other parts of Sarawak including Kapit, when the road network is completed.
A handing over of the Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah’s Cup for the media football and media ten-pin bowling to Acting Chairman of Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA), Jacqueline Atiqah and President of Sarawak Press Photographer Association (SPPA), Zulazhar Sheblee was also held.
Also present at the event were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, Snowdan Lawan, Director of Sarawak Sports Council, Dr Ong Kong Swee and Lea Sports Centre Group Managing Director, Raymond Sim Hee Pang.
