Premier recalls heart-pounding moments

KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg fondly shared the exhilarating mix of nerves and joy he experienced on the last day of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2024.

The intense race between Sarawak and the Federal Territory (FT) contingent for the overall championship title had kept him on edge until the very last moment.

He noted that Sarawak’s challengers for overall champion were Selangor and Terengganu, not FT, based on previous SUKMA records.

“But when Sarawak reached 71 golds medals, our other friend (FT) started to close in and I began to worry,” he shared during the Sarawak SUKMA 2024 Contingent incentive presentation at Riverside Majestic Hotel on Saturday night.

That is when tension started to grow as two key events on the final day would determine the outcome – the men’s football match between FT and Melaka and the men’s singles table tennis between FT and Kedah.

Abang Johari confessed that he parked himself in front of the television and glued to the matches.

“I know that football is held in Mukah where Melaka faces FT. I thought Melaka would win but, they lost 2-1 to FT,” he said with a chuckle.

That result left the fate of Sarawak hanging on the outcome of the table tennis match between Kedah’s senior national player Wong Qi Shen and FT’s junior national player Im Jin Zhen.

“So, I tune into the table tennis match. Just like the rhythmic sound of the ping pong ball—tang tung, tang tung, tang tung—I am sure our hearts echo the same beat.

“When Kedah emerged victorious in the match, I shouted in excitement, so loud that I startled my wife. She came in, wondering what had happened,” he recounted with a laugh.

Kedah’s victory finally sealed Sarawak’s position as overall champions of SUKMA 2024, a triumph that left the Premier and the entire state beaming with pride.