KUCHING: Sarawak may be the host for the 2024 Malaysian Games (SUKMA) if it is given the opportunity.
In stating this, Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that such plans were among those discussed during his courtesy visit to federal Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh on Jan 17 in Kuala Lumpur.
He added that, as discussed, there are no states that are willing to host SUKMA next year.
“If there are no obstacles, Sarawak may be the host for 2024 SUKMA because the supposed host had declined the offer.
“I can say that we are most willing to host the event if we are given the opportunity,” he said at a press conference during the ‘Seluhur Kasih Sekalung Budi’ dinner at the Waterfront Hotel here last night (Jan 20).
Explaining the matter, he said that the 21st edition of SUKMA was supposed to be hosted by Johor after they passed the baton to the National Sports Council to host the sports event in 2022.
He speculated that it seems that Johor may have become tawar hati (discouraged) after two years of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, hence, rejected the offer to host the event in 2024.
“As of now, the only state that has yet to host SUKMA is Kelantan. Thus, they were offered the chance to host the event, and we are still waiting for their response.
“But looking at the situation, the Kelantan exco said they might face a problem hosting the event due to their unpreparedness in terms of time and facilities.
“Nevertheless, if no other state is willing to take up on the offer (to host SUKMA), Sarawak is ready for it as we have the space and facilities for the event,” he said.
