SARAWAK should establish a fully comprehensive and high-performance sports school to systematically develop young athletes and strengthen the state’s sporting future, said Daro assemblyman, Safiee Ahmad.
Safiee said Sarawak needed a specialised sports school comparable to Malaysia’s national sports school model, such as Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil, while acknowledging that SMK Tabuan Jaya currently serves as Sarawak’s State Sports School.
“The existing model should be further strengthened to provide a more holistic ecosystem for athlete development.
“In my opinion, the current model should be enhanced so that the development of young Sarawakian athletes does not rely solely on training, but is supported by quality sports facilities, conducive hostels, athlete nutrition, specialised coaches, sports science support, and a balance between academics and training,” he said in his debate speech on the motion of appreciation to the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s address at the DUN Sitting today.
Safiee said Sarawak possessed many talented young athletes, including those from rural, coastal and interior areas, but warned that the absence of a structured and continuous grassroots development system could hinder the realisation of their full potential at higher levels of competition.
“Without a systematic development ecosystem, these talents will find it difficult to progress to SUKMA, the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games and other international competitions,” he said.
He further urged the Ministry of Education Malaysia and relevant ministries to consider establishing a dedicated Sarawak Sports School or, at the very least, upgrading SMK Tabuan Jaya into a more comprehensive athletic development centre.
