SRDC proposes Olympic-size swimming pool in Sibujaya

SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman Wong Ching Yong has proposed for the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool in the growing Sibujaya township.

“I have written a letter to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah recently to propose (for the pool).

“I met up with the Minister (who was on a site visit to Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre in Sibujaya on Saturday) and asked whether there is a possibility of building an Olympicsize swimming pool in Sibujaya.

“Then, he (Abdul Karim) said, he will give due consideration because a swimming pool is fitting to the present facility of the sports stadium,” he revealed.

“If there is a swimming pool in Sibujaya then, there is a complete sports complex – both land and water,” Wong told The Borneo Post when interviewed on Saturday.

Adding on, he said that Sibujaya is the fastest growing new planned town in Sarawak.

Its population is about 35,000

Then, he (Abdul Karim) said, he will give due consideration because a swimming pool is fitting to the present facility of the sports stadium. If there is a swimming pool in Sibujaya then, there is a complete sports complex – both land and water.

Wong Ching Yong

and still growing and there are three schools, having a combined student population of approximately 5,000.

Wong pointed out that with the exception of Kuching, there is no other swimming pool in Sarawak which meets the criteria to organise a national swimming championship because the existing swimming pools in Sibu and Miri do not meet the stringent requirements of FINA (International Swimming Federation)/Malaysia Amateur Swimming Association.

“We are hopeful that Sibujaya will produce another Olympic medalist like Pandelela Rinong,” he said.