Sarawak invested RM300 mln to improve facilities for SUKMA: Abdul Karim

KUCHING: The Sarawak government allocated RM300 million to upgrade and improve sports facilities in preparation for the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA).

Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who stressed the significance of the investment, noted that SUKMA provides host states with an opportunity to enhance their sports infrastructure.

The funding for these upgrades is jointly provided by both state and federal governments.

“For the record, the state government itself has spent RM300 million for this purpose.

“Indeed, the preparation for this event requires meticulous planning from every angle, and it certainly necessitates strong synergy among the ministries, departments, and agencies from both federal and state levels, as well as active participation from the sports associations of the host state and other strategic partners,” he said during his speech at the SUKMA dinner held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Wednesday night.

He hoped that SUKMA 2024 would embody the concept of “sports for the community,” using sports as a medium to unite the people.

“Participation from all levels of society not only strengthens the bonds between the people of the state but also fosters connectivity between the states and territories within the Federation of Malaysia.

“In line with this year’s theme, ‘Semangat Perpaduan Membara’, it clearly reflects that sports serve as a medium for uniting the diverse communities in the country,” he added.

The 21st edition of SUKMA features 37 sports and 488 events, involving approximately 15,000 athletes and officials from all states, including Brunei Darussalam. The games are being held across 37 competition venues in nine divisions, with 33 sports villages and accommodations provided for the athletes and officials throughout the duration of the event.