Ling: Mordi’s appointment as deputy minister will boost M’sia’s overall sporting performance

MIRI (Dec 22): Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol’s appointment as the new Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports will help strengthen youth development and enhance Malaysia’s overall sporting performance, said National Sports Council (MSN) management board member Alan Ling.

“His appointment is timely and important, and I am confident he will discharge his duties with full dedication and a strong sense of responsibility, especially in advancing the youth and sports agenda at the national level,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Ling added that the presence of a Sarawakian deputy minister was much needed to ensure that sports development in Sabah and Sarawak receives fair attention and support.

He said Malaysia has many talented athletes who have proven their capabilities at international competitions, including the recent SEA Games in Thailand, but challenges persist due to limitations in training facilities, as most national-level infrastructure and expertise are still concentrated in Bukit Jalil.

“I hope Sabah and Sarawak will eventually be able to develop national-standard sports arenas or training centres similar to Bukit Jalil—including sports schools—to enable athletes from East Malaysia to train closer to home,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ling said one of the key challenges for the ministry would be preparing for the 34th SEA Games in 2027, which Malaysia will host with Kuching and Kuala Lumpur selected as joint host cities.

He said he was confident Mordi would be able to work closely with the Sarawak state government to ensure the successful hosting of the Games while promoting sustainable sports development.