Sarawak moots Borneo Games revival

KUCHING (Aug 21): Sarawak has unveiled plans to revive the Borneo Games involving participation from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia’s Kalimantan.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he had forwarded the idea to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

“I am toying the idea to the Youth and Sports Minister – we want to have the Borneo Games, a sports event for the Borneo region, which includes Malaysia, specifically Sabah and Sarawak, as well as our neighboring countries, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia’s Kalimantan.

“God willing, I will now bring up this idea to our friends (Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia),” said Abang Johari.

The biennial Games was last held in Brunei in 2009.

He was speaking during the Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI Sarawak dinner reception at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) tonight.

He said as Sarawak prepares to co-host the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the state government will later discuss with neighboring countries the possibility of organising the Borneo Games.

“We in Sarawak will try to be the (main) sponsor of the Borneo Games,” Abang Johari added.

He said he is confident that the Borneo Games would provide an excellent platform to hone the state’s athletes and prepare them for international competition.

Meanwhile, appreciation plaques were also presented to all Sukma contingents, including Brunei Darussalam.

Among those present were Crown Prince of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj; Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; and Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.