Sarawak Stadium upgrade surpasses target, reaches 33.65 pct

Abdul Karim (centre) flanked by Cassidy on his right and others during a visit to inspect the upgrading works on Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya on Sept 17, 2026. Photo: JKR Sarawak

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 17: The upgrading works at Sarawak Stadium have reached 33.65 per cent completion, putting the project 2.86 percentage points ahead of its planned progress of 30.79 per cent.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the encouraging progress indicated that the project was currently ahead of schedule.

He said the contractor had also secured and brought to the site the necessary materials and components, including aluminium, building façade elements and interior fittings.

“This is a very encouraging development,” he said during a media briefing and site visit to the Sarawak Stadium upgrading project in Petra Jaya today, as reported by TVS.

Abdul Karim said the availability of the required materials would help ensure that the upgrading works could continue smoothly and maintain their current momentum.

He stressed the need to sustain the pace of work to ensure the stadium was completed according to schedule and ready to serve as one of the main venues for the 2027 SEA Games.

Sarawak Stadium is expected to play an important role in the regional sporting event, including as the venue for the opening ceremony.

In a statement posted on its social media, Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak director Datu Ir Cassidy Morris said several other sports facility upgrading projects undertaken as part of Sarawak’s preparations for the 2027 SEA Games were also recording encouraging progress.

The Stadium Perpaduan upgrading project has reached 22.28 per cent physical completion, which is 4.76 percentage points ahead of schedule. The project is targeted for completion in December 2026.

The upgrading works at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre are also progressing ahead of schedule by 14.33 percentage points and are expected to be completed by December 2026, earlier than the original completion date of March 2027.

The Wushu Training Centre upgrading project, meanwhile, is progressing according to schedule.

JKR Sarawak also reported that all construction materials required for the projects were already on site, allowing works to proceed more smoothly and helping to accelerate overall progress.

The department said the readiness of the sports facilities would be crucial not only for the 2027 SEA Games but also for Sarawak’s preparations to host international sporting events in the future.

JKR Sarawak will continue to monitor the progress, quality and workplace safety of the projects to ensure they are completed as planned and deliver high-quality sporting facilities for the successful hosting of the 2027 SEA Games. — DayakDaily