Abang Jo says Sarawak stepping up to host Sukma for country’s sake
KUCHING, March 17 — Sarawak agreed to host next year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) out of national interest, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg explained today.
He said the state government wanted to contribute to the country and ensure the Sukma would continue as he suspected the other states were reluctant to host due to various reasons.
“What is important is that we want to give exposure to all the athletes from other parts of the country to come to Sarawak,” he told reporters after opening a three-day Borneo International Garden Expo Sarawak (Bigexs) 2023 here.
Abang Johari said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told him that the federal government had asked Sarawak to host Sukma next year.
“As I had explained earlier, if the federal Youth and Sports Ministry wanted us to host the games, we are prepared,” he said.
He said Karim and his ministry will make preparation for Sarawak to be the host.
“We have the facilities in place and the minister will discuss with the sport officials on other facilities, including the construction of velodrome, that are needed,” he said.
He said the state government will identify a site for the construction of the velodrome, but it would most likely be near the sports complex in Petra Jaya.
“We will build the velodrome as soon as possible and must be completed before Sukma starts next year while other facilities will have to be repaired and upgraded,” he said.
Abang Johari also said he believed the federal government will provide a certain amount of allocation to any state that hosts the Malaysia Games.
However, he said the amount may not be sufficient, explaining the reason why some states were not willing to be the host.
