Bukit Lima pool re-opens for Sibu trainees after two years

SIBU (March 19): After almost two years, swimmers here can finally return to Bukit Lima Swimming Pool as they prepare for the upcoming state and national competitions.

Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa) president Joseph Ung thanked Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for giving the green light to use the pool.

“Very happy to see the swimmers returning for training and, hopefully, they can make a fresh start, intensify their training, reach current competitive standards and prepare well for Sarawak and national competitions,” he said.

Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) recently handed over the newly completed Retrofitting and Covered Outdoor Learning Areas at the pool to SMC after almost two years of upgrading works.

However, SMC chairman Clarence Ting said then that the pool remained closed for the council to carry out several additional maintenance and upgrading works to ensure its safety.

Meanwhile, Ung said this was the first time he returned to the pool since becoming president more than two years ago.

“With everything in place, the onus now rests on the swimmers to train hard and to regain the glory swimming days of the past seasons,” he said.

Over the past two years, swimmers here trained at Delta Swimming Pool.

“However, we received complaints and feedback from members of the public that our swimmers occupied too much space (at the pool),” Ung revealed.

Currently, the Bukit Lima Swimming Pool is only open to Sasa’s trainees.

“SMC is yet to approve the official opening date for the public swimmers. Any operations of the Bukit Lima pool falls under the jurisdiction of SMC,” Ung said.

He added that only the main pool and changing rooms are permitted for use at the moment while other areas such as the children’s pool and spectator seating area remain off-limits because some finishing works are still incomplete and safety considerations must be observed.

On the training schedules, SMC has approved two time slots for swimmers – 6am-9am and from 4pm-9pm daily.

Training arrangements during these periods will be coordinated by Sasa’s coaching team with two coaches supervising swimmers in each session.

On the entry fees, Ung suggested SMC to waive or reduce the entry fees for trainees. SMC is charging the monthly fees at RM20 per month for trainees under 12-years-old and RM50 per month above 12-years-old.

Ung said waiving the entry fees will allow more young swimmers to embrace the sport, focus on their training and take part in competitions.

“Ultimately, the mission is to bring back the glory days of the swimming and help make Sibu proud,” he added.

He said the swimmers are already paying the coaching fees and must also bear their own expenses to participate in competitions.