A total of 280.7 million allocation for development and improvements of sports facilities throughout Sarawak

Our State Government had allocated a total of RM280.7 million under the Sarawak Budget 2025 for the development and improvements of sports facilities throughout the divisions. The allocation was a significant increase compared to the RM76.4 million allocated under last year's budget and this had reflected our state government’s commitment to provide sports facilities of international standard.  

I have mentioned these in my winding up speech and including plans for a youth and sports database to be undertaken next year which had aimed to allow for informed, data-driven decisions and to monitor progress across all levels. 

 

Thus, the database would facilitate the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) to develop effective targeted strategies for youth development in leadership, sports and entrepreneurship, and shape policies that positively impact the lives of Sarawak’s youth.

 

Extensive research and an inclusive approach to data collection are required to develop this database. To ensure the database is comprehensive and accurate, MYSED will work closely with the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) on the Sarawak Youth Index 2.0 study. 

 

Once completed, the data will be integrated into the existing Integrated Games Management System (IGMS) from the Sarawak Sports Council (SSC) to create a system that serves the needs of various key stakeholders. We are also looking at integrating into Sarawak Big Data in time to come. For next year, our ministry would be focussing on a futurising the youth programme by equipping youth with essential skills for a rapidly evolving world. 

 

The "Futurize Youth @ AI Initiative" will train over 500 youths in Sarawak with artificial intelligence skills, preparing them for careers in technology and supporting the growth of Sarawak’s high-tech sector.

Sarawak had achieved a total of 4.08 million visitors as of 15 November 2024.

I was pleased to announce at the recent State's Legislative Assembly sitting that Sarawak has reached its target of four million visitors for the year 2024 and the achievement was a month ahead of schedule. The total number of visitors achieved was 4.08 million visitors as of November 15. 

The achievement was the positive result of the various international and national-level tourism events, conventions, conferences and meetings which were organised on our shores this year and hence, resulting in the sharp growth of visitors' arrival. With Sarawak's tourism sector anticipating full recovery by 2025, our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) had aimed to achieve five million visitors in 2025 and also generating an expected RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts.

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) was also targeting India and the Middle East as new markets due to their growing population of travellers with higher spending power and diverse interests. For instance, Sarawak would benefit from India's booming outbound tourism market driven by young, digitally-savvy travellers interested in niche tourism sectors. Consequently, Sarawak Tourism Board had engaged with 64 prominent film producers from South Indian Film Producers Association to attract them to choose Sarawak as their next preferred filming destination.

As a result of Sarawak Tourism Board's promotion initiatives, visitors from the new markets segment had grown by 75.3% this year. Similarly, other regional markets have also recorded positive growth, with Europe sector had increased by 12 percent, North Asia by 58.6 percent, ASEAN region by 44.6 percent and the domestic market expanded by 3.9 percent.

On another matter, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts will be working with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on gazetting the "Three Sisters Waterfall" located in Baram District in Northern part of our state as a nature reserve.

It was suggested for the local communities in the said area to be engaged on the proposal and it would pave the way for the waterfall to be developed into an ecotourism attraction especially in Miri division. As such, it was suggested for setting up a community-based development committee to be coordinated by the divisional tourism task group of the Miri Resident's Office. The Three Sisters Waterfall should be gazetted as a new nature park or reserve because of its unique beauty, with three distinct falls flowing into a majestic pool.

Good response for the press conference held after my winding up speech at Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting

We have attended the press conference held at the Media Room of our State Legislative Assembly Building and it had attracted the interest of the various media establishments there. It was held shortly after my winding up speech and syukur alhamdullillah the press conference went well. 

Our appreciation to all media friends who were present with us including those who asked a number of interesting questions related to my winding up speech held earlier. Thank you also to all my deputy ministers, namely YB Datuk Sebastian Ting, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat who had accompanied me throughout the press conference. 

Also who joined us during the press conference were Datu Sherrina Hussain, the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) along with Tuan Morshidi Fredrik, Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED).

Thanking our media friends for their continuous support and cooperation during our DUN sitting

Today was my turn to deliver the wunding up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting and thanks to our media friends who had waited patiently for my arrival there together with officials from our ministries. Syukur alhamdullilah I had delivered the speeches as Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) and also as Minister of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED).

Also present at this morning session were our deputy ministers at MTCP namely Datuk Sebastian Ting and Datuk Snowdan Lawan while our depity ministers at MYSED were Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat and Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu. Among the senior officials who were present include Datu Sherrina Hussain, the permanent secretary to MTCP and Tuan Morshidi Fredrik, the permanent secretary to MYSED.

I had answered a few interesting questiones posed by our media friends which related to my winding up speeches on the two ministries milestones and achievements for the year 2024. Of course there also those who had seek clarifications on the recent national events which were held in Sarawak that incuded the 21st edition of Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) and the coming Southeaxt Asia (SEA) Games

Thank you all of them who had given us their full support throughout the DUN sitting and the news coverage had served well in providing latest updates from the respective elected state assembymen from throughout Sarawak.

Giving credit to Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association for being active in organising and bringing international events to Kuching

I have congratulated our Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) for having organised the annual invitational inter-state club championship which had gained international recognition from other countries. 

For this year's event, SLTA had attracted entries from 200 club players from Singapore, West Kalimantan, Indonesia Semenanjung Malaysia and host, Sarawak. The popularity of this event augurs well for the development of tennis in Sarawak especially in promoting the game among our young folks. I have pledged the full support to next year’s event which may offer better prizes for winners who may hold the bragging rights as the best club side there is.

On another development, The association has lined up seven international events to be hosted in the state for 2025 running throughout March until October.

The events will put Sarawak on the world’s tennis map by continuing to run international junior tournaments in Kuching starting on March 3 to 8 when they will be hosting the Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying Event – Junior Billie Jean King Cup Under-16.

This is followed by Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying Event – Junior Davis Cup Under-16 on March 10-15 with the next international event on the SLTA's calendar will be the International Tennis Federation (ITF) qualifying finals for the World Junior Tennis Competition (Boys) Under-14, on April 2-8, to be held back-to-back with the ITF World Junior Competition (Girls) on April 9-16. 

The major events of the year are the 43rd Sarawak Premier Cup ITF World Tennis Juniors J300 from April 22 to 27; and the 44th Sarawak Premier Cup ITF World Tennis Juniors J100 from Sept 2 whereas the final international event (in Sarawak) will be the 18th ATF Asian Under-14 Series from Oct 13 to 18. 

These are the tournaments where the junior players from the Asian region and the world come to play before going professional and become world champions. Because of the confidence in SLTA by the ITF, the federation has given a grant of RM230,000 to organise the ITF Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying for Junior Billie Jean King Cup Under-16 and ITF Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying for the Junior Davis Cup Under 16; and another RM230,000 for the ITF Asia Oceania pre-qualifying events for the World Junior Tennis Competition Boys and Girls, and Asia Oceania Qualifying Final for World Junior Tennis Competition (Girls).

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