Education Ministry partners ASAS for first time as 52nd SAG opens Sarawak’s 2026 aquatic sports calendar

KUCHING (Dec 31): The Ministry of Education Sarawak will, for the first time, collaborate with the Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (ASAS) and the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) in the upcoming State level 52nd Sarawak Age Group (SAG) Swimming Championships.

It will be the first aquatic sports event to open the 2026 sporting calendar from Jan 2 to 4, 2026.

The championship, which also serves as a key selection meet for the 2026 Malaysia Invitational Age Group (MIAG) and the Schools Sports Council of Malaysia (MSSM) championships, will see 262 swimmers from five divisions, namely Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu, Sibu and Miri, competing across six age categories ranging from nine years old and below up to 21 years old.

Established in 1965 and now marking its 60th anniversary, ASAS is currently led by its newly elected president, Pemanca Tan Kun Gee.

He took over the helm following the departure of former president Dato Wee Hong Seng, who officially stepped down during the association’s annual general meeting in July 2025 after serving 15 years as president.

Tan said the collaboration with the Ministry of Education Sarawak and SSC reflects efforts to strengthen the connection between school athletes and the state’s competitive aquatic development pathway, while creating more opportunities for swimmers across the state to compete and progress.

He added that ASAS has begun implementing a series of reforms under the new leadership, noting that 16 out of 19 items in his leadership manifesto have been fulfilled within the first five months.

“In just five months, I have accomplished 16 out of 19 items listed in my manifesto,” he said.

Among the initiatives introduced are the formation of swimming clubs or associations in all divisions, the opening of ASAS affiliation to more clubs, the expansion of competition opportunities for Sarawak swimmers to MIAG, the Malaysia Open and international events, and the arrangement for foreign coaches engaged by ASAS to rotate across divisions rather than being based only in Kuching.

“It is not fair to fix the coach in Kuching. The coach must move around Sarawak so all swimmers can receive equal training opportunities,” Tan said.

Tan also announced that, for the first time, ASAS will subsidise 30 per cent of competition registration fees as an incentive to affiliates, in an effort to encourage wider participation.

This year’s SAG will be conducted in accordance with the World Aquatics Swimming Rules, Version 9, November 2024.

ASAS also set qualifying requirements for MIAG at a lower threshold to enable more swimmers to compete.

Participation is open to all registered swimmers from ASAS divisional affiliates.