KUCHING: Sarawak’s unique approach to sports governance through both the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) is driving more focused and effective athlete development.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of SSC and Director of MSNS, Khairul Nizam Morshidi, said the dual-entity structure provides a more structured and holistic framework to manage sports in the state, differentiating Sarawak from other regions in Malaysia.
“In Sarawak, our sports management is slightly different compared to West Malaysia. We don’t rely solely on the State Sports Council. We also develop sports through the Sarawak Sports Corporation,” he said.
He explained that the SSC is responsible for long-term planning and implementation of sports infrastructure and athlete development programmes, ensuring that facilities meet international standards and support high-performance training needs.
“SSC handles the planning and maintenance of sports facilities, athlete development pathways, and ensures that the infrastructures we build are of international quality,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MSNS focuses primarily on grooming elite athletes for national and international competitions, including the SEA Games and the Olympics.
“Through MSNS, we concentrate on preparing elite athletes who will represent the state and country at prestigious events. We already have a clear direction outlined by the Sarawak government through the relevant ministry,” said Khairul Nizam.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Invitationals Fencing Championship (U15 & Open) 2025 held at Grand Continental Hotel here on Wednesday.
Highlighting Sarawak’s ambitions as co-host of the 2027 SEA Games, he revealed that the state is expected to host at least 16 events in Kuching, reflecting its readiness and growing capacity to hold regional sporting events.
In line with this, Khairul Nizam emphasised the importance of synergy between government agencies, local sports associations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in building a vibrant and sustainable sports ecosystem.
“The State government continues to support and encourage all stakeholders to actively organise competitions especially those with international status to elevate Sarawak’s profile on the global sporting map,” he said.
Commenting on the fencing tournament, he described it as a key platform to identify new talent and prepare athletes for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
“Tournaments like this not only provide young athletes the opportunity to compete, but also build sportsmanship and foster camaraderie among participants from different backgrounds.
“If such competitions are held more regularly, I believe we can uncover more promising athletes and elevate the status of fencing at the state and national level,” he added.
