Football legends support school expansion

KUCHING: Former football legends Datuk Soh Chin Aun and Datuk Santokh Singh, representing the golden age of Malaysian football, will grace the launch of a fundraiser for the expansion of SMK Bario School and its sports excellence programme.

The launch will take place at the Old Courthouse on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg at 3 pm.

The expansion project aims to include four new classrooms, extensions to the boys’ and girls’ dormitories, a new all-weather artificial field, and sports equipment with a fundraising target of RM1 million.

According to the statement, the fundraising campaign will run from September 12, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

“Datuk Soh and Datuk Santokh are both avid proponents of nation-building in Malaysia, emphasising the importance of unity and strength in diversity.

“They are ardent supporters of community sports initiatives and take immense pride in contributing to the SMK Bario school expansion and sports excellence project,” the statement highlighted.

It further noted that the two football legends were part of the national team back then, which comprised players from diverse ethnic backgrounds and faiths, leading Malaysia to become an Asian football powerhouse that dominated regional competitions for over two decades.

“As an integral part of the SMK Bario expansion project, the introduction of a sports excellence program was deemed crucial to instil and enhance students’ pride in their school.

“Bario boasts essential elements for nurturing successful athletes, such as exceptionally clean air, high altitude, and ample open space for training. This setup mirrors conditions in the Kenyan highlands, renowned for producing world-class and Olympic champions in middle and long-distance running. Notably, Kuda Ditta, the first Sarawakian to compete in athletics at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, hailed from Bario,” the statement elaborated.

Additionally, due to the high rainfall in the Bario highlands, there is a proposal to install an all-weather artificial field, as the current school field remains wet and muddy throughout the year.

With the current population of Bario at 1,000 and declining annually, the school expansion aims to retain students in Bario until the age of 17, providing them with the opportunity to stay with their families longer, benefiting from their guidance, protection, and support.

“Traditionally, students and young adults leave Bario after Form 3 (around 15 years old) to pursue further studies in Marudi, Miri, or Kuching, as SMK Bario does not offer Form 4 or Form 5.

“These individuals complete their education and often settle in these urban areas, seldom returning to Bario until their later years. This project marks the beginning of education, entrepreneurship, and environmental endeavours, catalyzing revitalizing Bario as a successful agricultural, food production, and tourism hub within the Sarawak Highlands,” the statement concluded.