SARIKEI: Sarawak is banking on basketball to unearth and nurture new sporting talent, with Sarikei youth identified as having the potential to rise on the national stage.
Sarikei MP and Repok assemblyman, Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, said the government is committed to invest in grassroots development to ensure local players receive the right exposure and training from an early age.
“I see great potential in the young people of Sarikei to reach the highest level, but support from parents and the community is just as important,” he said when launching the 2025 Basketball League here last night.
Huang stressed that talent must be developed through structured and continuous programmes, beginning in schools.
He pointed out that the state’s broader sports policy, under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and the GPS government, places equal importance on facilities, equipment, and community engagement.
Among ongoing projects is the construction of a covered basketball court in Meranti under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), alongside infrastructure upgrades in Sarikei and Bintangor to expand youth participation.
The 2025 Basketball League, running from Aug 15 to Sept 7, is expected to become a proving ground for local players eager to showcase their abilities.
As a gesture of support, Huang also presented RM20,000 to the Repok Basketball Club to help sustain the competition and encourage further development of the sport in the division.
