Shot in the arm for rugby in Sarawak
KUCHING: The rugby fraternity in Sarawak was delighted to hear of the good news from the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during the state’s oldest rugby club, the Kuching Rugby Football Club’s ( KFRC) 60th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner at a local hotel on Thursday.
Firstly, Sarawak will have two full- f ledged rugby pitches next year to not only further promote and develop rugby in the state and especially in Kuching but also host competitions at state, national and international levels.
“The State Cabinet had approved RM6 million today for the construction of two rugby pitches and the cricket ground at the Sarawak Stadium Complex in Petra Jaya.
“The project should be starting this year and by next year you will be having full-fledged rugby ground at the Sarawak Stadium Complex,” he said.
The Asajaya assemblyman said the other good news was that the Sarawak government will ensure that the Song Kheng Hai Rugby Ground will remain solely for rugby purpose and will not be taken over for commercial development.
“I think we should preserve the Song Kheng Hai Ground because it has become so sentimental to the rugby community.
“I am very very sure that the State government especially the chief minister will not hesitate to give consideration to have the Ground upgraded and developed into a very good pitch for rugby players.
“We might also have to look into building pitches in Sibu as at one time Sibu was very strong in rugby,” he added.
One thing about rugby that has greatly impressed the minister was that although it was rather a robust game, there were no quarrels when the players bump into each other and bring each other down during the competition.
Karim also commended Sarawak Rugby Union president Richard Song Swee Jin for being a role model in uplifting the standard of rugby in Sarawak and promoting the junior development programme for those who will become the state’s future champions.
“We are delighted with SRU which has taken various initiatives and development programmes for the benefit of the game, the players and of course the standard of the game.
“It is therefore my wish for the local rugby fraternity to remain active and to undertake an allround development programme in nurturing our players towards high performance and playing skills,” said Karim.
On another note, Karim said Sarawak is looking forward to Sukma Johor which be held next year.
“It is the next challenge for us to face in our effort to become a sports powerhouse in the country and we are aiming to become the overall champions in Sukma 2020.
“Hence, I call upon KRFC and SRU as well as the divisional affiliates to work harder with clear objectives so that over time, Sarawak can be the rugby powerhouse in Malaysia and win the rugby gold in Sukma 2020,” he added.
Apart from launching the “60 Years of Rugby” book written by veteran journalist James Alexander Ritchie, Karim also joined the guests in the cutting of the anniversary cake as well as launch the commemorative video.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Hii Chang Kee, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee, Sarawak Rugby Union president Richard Song Swee Jin, KRFC president Ahmad Yusop Shah Mokhsen and other guests.