Sarawak would have the opportunity to host several SEA Games events in 2027

KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believes Sarawak would have the potential to host several events when Malaysia organizes the 2027 SEA Games.

The Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister stated that the topic was still being discussed and that an announcement will be made once the specifics were finished.

“We are still discussing, and we have had two or three Zoom meetings with the federal sports ministry,” he said during a press briefing at the State Legislative Assembly Complex yesterday.

He stated that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) held by Sarawak will cost at least RM300 million, with the state still expecting money from the federal government.

“Actually, we are requesting approximately RM100 million from the federal government to organize this Sukma.”

“In the previous edition of the competitions in 2016, the federal government only gave us RM40 million and the sports events were only held in Kuching and Sibu back then, with fewer sports categories competed,” he stated.

In his ministerial closing statement earlier, Abdul Karim stated that his ministry and the Sarawak Sports Corporation had identified and are upgrading 24 Sukma facilities, as well as building three new ones.

The facilities being upgraded are including Sarawak Stadium, State Stadium, Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, lawn bowl arena at Petra Jaya, state hockey stadium at Padungan, hockey stadium at Petra Jaya, BMX track hill at Bukit Siol, archery range at Petra Jaya, shooting range field at Sarawak Squash Centre at Petra Jaya, Sarawak Petanque Centre at Santubong, Stadium Perpaduan at Petra Jaya, tennis courts at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association center, basketball court at Kuching South City Council hall, Samarahan closed stadium, and Sri Aman closed stadium.

The others are the Miri Petronas Sports Village, the Stadium Tun Zaidi in Sibu, the Sibu indoor stadium, the Mukah stadium, the Bintulu closed stadium, and the Bintulu Muhibbah stadium.

The three new buildings, which are being built at Petra Jaya and are anticipated to be finished by July, are the Sarawak Sports Village, the Wushu Training and Competition Centre, and the Sarawak Cricket and Rugby Ground.

Additionally, Abdul Karim informed the august House that RM237 million under Project Rakyat and RM144.6 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan had been granted for the improvement of sports facilities throughout Sarawak.

Additionally, he disclosed that the proposed renovations to the Kapit swimming pool and indoor stadium are anticipated to be up for bids early in September and to open for bidding next month.

It is anticipated that the eight-month project will be finished by the second quarter of 2025. The Sarawak Public Works Department is the implementing agency for these projects, which will begin concurrently.

He added that the project, which is scheduled to be granted in the third quarter of this year and should be finished by the first quarter of next year, will involve the ministry carrying out the suggested retrofitting and covered outdoor learning areas of the Miri Public Swimming Pool.

“In addition to this, my ministry will begin the planned maintenance and repair of the Miri Public Swimming Pool, including the replacement of the pool’s pump and filtration system.” ― The Borneo Post