KUCHING: Football in Sarawak continues to face challenges stemming from structural instability and inconsistent support – an issue also reflected at the national level, said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He noted that Malaysia’s footballing standards, once on par with nations like South Korea in the 1970s, have since declined significantly.
“In the 1970s, we were on par with South Korea. But now, look where South Korea is and where we are.
“Nationally, our football is still umbang-ambing (unstable),” he told reporters at a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Tuesday.
Abdul Karim praised Kuching City FC for their recent progress and expressed hope that it could mark a turning point for football in Sarawak.
However, he acknowledged that broader, underlying issues remain unresolved.
“I’m not an expert, but I can see there are problems, not just with Sarawak football, but with the national football scene,” he said.
He highlighted the shift in football management from state associations to clubs, saying this transition makes it more difficult for government bodies like the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and his ministry to be actively involved.
“When clubs take charge, it limits our ability to support directly. We would prefer if clubs received support from private sector sponsors, with the government stepping in only where necessary.
“But even that approach won’t be enough to fully develop football in the state,” he said.
Abdul Karim described private sector support for football as a “chicken-and-egg” problem – without results, sponsors stay away, but results require support.
“If Sarawak teams aren’t performing well, sponsors are reluctant to invest.
“And if you expect the ministry to keep funding without results, that too is unsustainable, unless we had someone like TMJ (Johor Regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim) or the Sultan of Johor based in Sarawak to fund everything,” he quipped.
Looking ahead, he expressed hope that the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and SSC will prioritise grassroots development.
“I hope FAS and SSC can focus on development. The best time to start is now; you can’t go wrong by starting early,” he said.
