PETALING JAYA: A Sarawak minister has dismissed Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor’s appeal for the Bornean state to help cover part of the costs in sending the Kedah contingent to the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sabah and Sarawak always had to bear such high costs to travel to West Malaysia for national-level events.
He added that Sanusi’s request will shine a spotlight on how costly it has been for the two East Malaysian states all this while, The Borneo Post reported.
“What the Kedah menteri besar highlighted is what Sabah and Sarawak have had to endure during national events, including sports, whenever they are held in Peninsular Malaysia.
“The contingents from Sabah and Sarawak have had to bear the costs for any sports event, be it Sukma or the yearly national soccer league. We’ve suffered in silence every year just to participate,” Karim said.
Yesterday, Sanusi cited the high cost of travel and the need to transport “containers” of equipment in appealing for Sarawak to help cover part of the costs.
The Kedah menteri besar said other states also probably faced the same issue.
Karim said Sanusi was probably just joking, adding that Kedah was a rich state that could afford to bear the costs.
“The Kedah menteri besar, at one time, even mentioned that it could be as developed and successful as Selangor.”
Sukma 2024 will be held across Sarawak’s nine divisions from Aug 17 to 24. A total of 37 sports will be contested, involving 488 events, with the participation of 12,619 athletes and officials.
This will be the third time the games are being hosted by Sarawak after 1990 and 2016. - FMT
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