The selection of athletes to represent the 2027 SEA Games must be based on merit

KUCHING, 18 Sept: Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurial Development Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that the selection of athletes to represent Malaysia at the 2027 SEA Games should be done on merit and handed over to relevant sports associations.

He said that although there are expected athletes from Sarawak to represent the country on the theme, he did not want to make demands for all Malaysian representatives to be made up of athletes from Sarawak.

"I believe we have not yet decided who will represent Malaysia. Of course there will be athletes from Sarawak, but we can't ask too much for those who represent Malaysia to come from Sarawak.

"The selection should be managed by the sports association on merit", he said at the Annual Calculation Meeting towards SEA 2027 Cluster Sarawak Games here, tonight.

According to him, Sarawak athletes who have the opportunity to perform on their own site will definitely get more support from family, friends and local supporters.

However, Abdul Karim hoped that the people of Sarawak who attended the venue not only gave support to the state athletes but also supported all the athletes representing Malaysia.

"We have to support all Malaysian athletes. We want to see Malaysia emerge as the champion, and if possible, become the overall champion at this time's SEA Games", he said.

He also attributed the united support of the people of Sarawak as one of the important factors in spreading the atmosphere of competition when Sarawak became one of the SEA Sports organizing groups 2027.- TVS