Abdul Karim: Sarawak to address issues with Sukma athletes representing different states

KUCHING (Jan 27): Sarawak will address any issues involving athletes representing different states in the next Malaysia Games (Sukma), said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development said priority will be given to athletes’ welfare and development.

“Every Sukma definitely we are bound to face something like this. Sarawak athletes representing other states or athletes from other states representing Sarawak,” he told a press conference on Monday to announce the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association’s 2026 International Calendar and the association receiving the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Gold Recognition.

He said there has been feedback involving athletes who had trained and competed under Sarawak for several years.

According to him, Sarawak identified, groomed, exposed, and developed some of these athletes originally from other states, who are in some cases medal prospects.

“The state is not really too happy, but then we will face it when we come to that time,” he said.

He explained that before Sukma, relevant parties would usually hold discussions to resolve such matters amicably and it was unlikely that objections from any state would prevent athletes from participating.

The welfare and progression of the athletes are considered while deliberations would include determining which state discovered and developed the athlete, he said.

“If it is you, we will give it to you. If it is us, you have to give it to us, even though they might not be residents of Sarawak or considered Sarawak kids,” he said.

He noted that the situation could also be reversed with Sarawak-born athletes competing for other states.

Abdul Karim said Sarawak respected the decisions of athletes if they had already committed to another state and received allowances there for one or two years.

“We try to bring them back, but we also have to respect those wishes,” he said.

He cited swimming as one example, referring to a case where an athlete whose parents are both Sarawakians won multiple gold medals for another state during the last Sukma held in Sarawak.