KUCHING: Plans to develop dedicated futsal facilities in Sarawak may be explored as interest in the sport continues to grow.
Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the possibility could be explored if demand for futsal continues to rise, especially with increasing participation in weekend tournaments statewide.
He said any such consideration would depend on budget and overall sports infrastructure planning, but noted that strong grassroots support often leads to government investment in dedicated facilities.
“I think when a sport receives very strong support, we will always consider it. But of course, we need to look at the budget and priorities,” he said.
Abdul Karim was speaking after officiating the SABERKAS President’s Cup Futsal Championship 2026, which featured 34 teams from across Sarawak over two days from May 1 to May 2 at Arena Sukan here.
He said Sarawak had previously followed a similar approach in developing muay thai facilities and programmes, which have since grown into structured annual competitions supported by the state.
He noted that sustained government backing had helped elevate muay thai into a recognised competitive sport in Sarawak, with regular events such as Sarawak Premier Cup Muaythai Championship and Sarawak TYT Muay Thai Cup Championship 2026.
“I still remember when muay thai was not widely known. But with consistent support, we now have proper competitions every year, and it has produced many good athletes,” he said.
Abdul Karim said futsal was now showing similar potential, with strong participation seen across the state, including teams travelling from various divisions to compete in Kuching.
“I can see there is very strong interest in futsal. I did not expect so many teams from across Sarawak to come just to take part in this tournament,” he said.
He added that while no immediate decision has been made, the idea of developing dedicated futsal courts or facilities could be looked into if the trend continues.
“Of course, we may consider it, but we have to study the demand and budget before anything is decided,” he said.
