PUTRAJAYA, March 16 — Sarawak aim to make the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) the best ever after being officially chosen today to be the hosts of the 21st edition.
Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah said this time Sarawak are more prepared than when they hosted the country’s biggest sports event in 2016.
“Before this there were rumours that Sarawak could be the organisers (in 2024). This matter was brought to the state Cabinet and it agreed that if given the opportunity, we would accept to be the organiser. Insha-Allah we will try to make this Sukma the best organised and become the best organiser.
“This time I think we are ready enough so much so that the chosen sports (also) have been decided today. It has not yet been brought to the state level (but) we have decided so that all states can prepare like us,” he said when met at Menara Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) , here today.
Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh had announced that Sarawak had been selected to host Sukma 2024 after chairing the Sukma Supreme Committee Meeting at Menara KBS.
Meanwhile, Abd Karim said apart from focusing on Kuching, the Sarawak government plans to bring Sukma’s ‘aura’ to Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu and Miri to ensure that the people can enjoy the excitement of the biennial Games.
Abd Karim, who is also Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, said the move could also give a shift to the sports that will be contested in addition to fostering local people’s interest in the sports they will witness at the Games.
“In terms of facilities, I think Sarawak has enough facilities. The sports complex (Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex) in Kuching is one of the largest state sports complexes in Malaysia, the only one we don’t have yet is a velodrome,” he said.
He added that the organisation of Sukma 2024 is also hoped will have a positive impact on the state’s economy from the aspect of tourism.
Sukma 2024 will see Sarawak host the Games for the third time after the 1990 and 2016 editions. — Bernama
