Sarawak’s Liverpool Supporters Club celebrates first anniversary

KUCHING: Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus has contributed RM5,000 to the Liverpool Supporters Club of Sarawak (KPLK) in conjunction with its first anniversary.

John, who has supported Liverpool for many years, made the contribution while officiating the club’s anniversary dinner attended by about 230 supporters at Penview Hotel here on Saturday night (Sept 19).

“I feel very honoured to be able to be with all of you in this gathering,” he said.

John said his interest in Liverpool dated back to the 1980s and recalled travelling to Liverpool with friends in 2004, where they watched the club win 3-1.

He later visited Anfield with Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hing, who had studied in Liverpool and acted as their guide.

“We went all the way to the stadium and had the opportunity to see the inside and outside. The only thing we could not do was touch the grass or step onto the pitch,” he said.

John also congratulated KPLK on its first anniversary and expressed hope that the club would continue bringing Liverpool supporters together.

Meanwhile, KPLK president Mohd Asmil Abdullah said the dinner was attended by supporters from across Sarawak, as well as children from The Salvation Army Kuching Children’s Care Centre (KCCC).

“For KPLK, celebrating our first anniversary with 230 supporters would not be complete without sharing our happiness with those in need,” he said.

The club will hold a charity outreach programme at The Salvation Army KCCC in Kota Samarahan today (Sept 20) at 2 pm, involving its committee, members and Liverpool supporters.

Asmil said KPLK, which was registered with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (RoS) on Sept 18 last year, now had 125 registered members from Lundu, Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and Lawas.

He said the club also organised live match-viewing sessions and other activities for its members.

KPLK secretary Dennis Steven Nanyi said the club was formed to provide a formal platform for Liverpool supporters in Sarawak.

“However, we felt that one element was missing – a proper platform with transparency and integrity, where activities are organised in accordance with the law,” he said.

“Even the money that comes into the club belongs to the club, not to individuals,” he added.

The dinner also featured four lucky draw sessions, a sponsorship cheque presentation and a minute’s silence in memory of the late Liverpool player Diogo Jota, whose No. 20 jersey was retired following his death in 2025.

KPLK is also supported by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusuf, who is also Petra Jaya MP, with a RM5,000 contribution, while state Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn contributed RM2,000 towards the dinner.