KUCHING: A local tennis association is setting its sights beyond the baseline, pledging to make environmental sustainability as central to its identity as the sport itself.
The Persatuan Tenis Bumiputra Sarawak (PTBS) hosted an engagement session on Sunday with Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, who urged sports bodies to take a more active role in driving the state’s green agenda.
“Tennis is built on movement, discipline and energy. Today, we must expand that understanding of energy beyond the court — towards renewable energy, responsible consumption and environmental stewardship,” Dr Hazland told association members.
The session covered a range of practical measures PTBS could adopt, including solar-powered LED court lighting, rainwater harvesting systems and recycling programmes for used tennis balls.
The proposed “Ball Reborn” initiative garnered particular interest, as discarded tennis balls can take hundreds of years to decompose. Under the scheme, old balls would be repurposed into playground materials, benches and coaching equipment.
Dr Hazland stressed that community organisations need not wait for large-scale policy shifts to make a difference.
“Climate action cannot remain only within policy papers or government agencies. It must become part of community culture, daily habits and youth development,” he said.
He also called on PTBS to treat its junior athletes as future environmental leaders, arguing that exposure to green skills and sustainability practices would equip them for industries of tomorrow.
At the same time, he paid tribute to the association’s senior members, describing them as custodians of values — resourcefulness, moderation and respect for resources — that predate the modern sustainability movement.
Founded in 1978, PTBS is nearing five decades of developing tennis talent across Sarawak. Its president, Ruslan Bujang, said the association is ready to grow into something larger than a sporting body.
“Sports must continue evolving with society’s needs. Today, sustainability and environmental responsibility are part of that evolution,” Ruslan said.
He added that PTBS intends to forge partnerships with government agencies, schools and private sector stakeholders to develop programmes that blend athletic excellence with environmental consciousness.
As a gesture of state support, Dr Hazland presented PTBS with an annual grant of RM10,000 at the close of the session.
The engagement reflects a broader push by Sarawak to position itself as a leader in renewable energy and green economic growth under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 — a vision that now extends all the way to the tennis court.
