Looking forward to the 21st edition of Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) in August

With less than six month to go for the staging of 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI), the excitement is already felt by the respective organising committees' members who have recently attended a three-day coordination meeting at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). 

It was organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) with the support from Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and Sarawak State Sports Council (MSN Sarawak) as well as several state government's departments and agencies.

I have called on the all of the committees' members to stay focussed with their respective roles and responsibilities in order to ensure the smooth staging of the coming games which will feature 37 different sports and games. It will be a challenge to stage the coming Sukma XXI because of the large number of sports and games involved which is more than the regional games such as ASEAN Games and Asian Games. The large number of sports and games to be participated by Malaysian athletes is also more than what is featured in the Olympics.

     

Visit by Archbishop of Kuching Archdiocese, Simon Poh Hoon Seng & officials of St Joseph Private Secondary School

This morning I received the visit by the Archbishop of Kuching Archdiocese Simon Poh Hoon Seng who was accompanied by Christopher Chua, the chief executive officer of St Joseph Private Secondary School and also Matthew Wee, the school's head of department. It was a pleasure to hear from the future development plans for the school and also the milestones as well as achievement of their students in 2023.

I was impressed with the school's and their students plans for the year 2024 which include taking part in international events involving performing arts and brass bands. The increasing number of students over the past years had shown that the school had receiving good response from parents wanting the best secondary education for their children. 

Swearing in ceremony of newly appointed Head of State of Sarawak, His Excellency Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

It was a historic moment for us have witnessed the swearing in ceremony of our newly appointed Head of State of Sarawak, His Excellency Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was sworn in as the 8th Yang Dipertua Negeri at the State Legislative Assembly Building on January 29.

Tun Dr Wan Junaidi was accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were received on arrival at the venue by our Right Honourable Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and his wife, Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, as well as State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar.

The ceremony started with His Excellency Tun Dr Wan Junaidi inspecting a main guard of honour mounted by 102 officers and men of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) who was led by DSP Mohamad Zaini Ismail. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Dewan Lapau.

Over 300,000 of our local folks have attended "Karnival Jom Heboh Segulai Sejalai Sarawak"

After a lapse of 11 years, the popular "Karnival Jom Heboh" organised by Media Prima group has made a comeback to our shores and was held at the Celebration Square in Petra Jaya in Kuching over the weekend. The three-day event had attracted an estimated 300,000 crowd consisting of our folks from throughout Kuching, Samarahan, Asajaya and some came as far as Miri.

I have congratulated the organisers for having organised the exciting event which had featured 132 exhibition and sales booths but it was the concerts which had attracted the crowd. The event was supported by our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) and backed by popular demand it is expected to be organised again next year. 

Giving the thumbs up to the staging of "Karnival Jom Heboh Segulai Sejalai Sarawak"

I was given the privilege to represent our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Bin Tun Abang Openg at the official launching of "Karnival Jom Heboh Segulai Sejalai Sarawak" recently held at Celebration Square in Petra Jaya, Kuching on 26 to 28 January.

I have also delivered his text of speech and conveyed to the audience on our state government's support for the organising of social programmes and events which will benefit the local folks. Such programmes and events can also contribute to the local economy and tourism sector in the state. 

Hence, the state government through the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) is supporting the organising of "Karnival Jom Heboh (KJH)" event and kudos to the organisers for holding various interesting activities here for every member of our society.

We welcome the staging of the carnival which had emphasised the concept of togetherness and inclusivity that is synonymous with the state of Sarawak. The event themed "Segulai Sejalai Sarawak" was well received due to the efforts of the organisers in highlighting it. 

Such concept has been ingrained with the people of Sarawak for a long time. It is expressed through the nature of togetherness and inclusiveness in celebrating the diversity of ethnicity, religion and race along with the phrase ‘Segulai Sejalai".

Our Premier had also congratulated the organisers for providing a platform for entrepreneurs from 132 stalls to promote their products and goods in which many local entrepreneurs from all over Sarawak can participate while at the same time are able to generate income.

Visit by Director of Land & Survey Department Sarawak & talking on the forthcoming Sambir Cup football tournament

The Director of Land & Survey Department (LSD), Datu Abdullah Bin Julaihi had dropped by at our office this morning and I had a wonderful surprise of receiving two lovely neckties which was part of the department's corporate gifts.

Datu Abdullah himself is from Kampung Sambir in Asajaya, Samarahan and is staunch football fan. Thus, we spoke a lot on the forthcoming "Sambir Cup" football tournament which is an annual event that is being held at Kampung Sambir as part of the hari raya celebrations for local villagers there.

The event is also one of the oldest football events in Kuching and Samarahan divisions whereby the tradition has been upheld until present day. There are a lot of football teams from outside Asajaya had participated in the exciting event and it is great to see how they have enjoyed taking part just for the fun of it. 

The opening match is in a way unique simply because it is held on either the second or third day of hari raya. Apart from looking forward to the traditional house to house visits, the local folks in Kampung Sambir have the opportunity to see their favourite teams compete for top honours in the football tournament.

Visit by the outgoing Consul General of Negara Brunei Darulsalam to Kuching, Sarawak

We wish all the best to the outgoing Consul General of Negara Brunei Darulsalam, Her Excellency Puan Noni Zurainah Haji Ismi who recently paid a visit to our office. 

Her Excellency had been stationed in Kuching since three years ago and will soon be assuming a new post abroad. Throughout her tenure as the consul general of Brunei in Kuching, both our State Government and the Brunei sultanate had continue to maintain good rapport in many areas especially on tourism. 

This is because the influx of tourists into Sarawak had come from neighbouring Brunei and over the this had support the growth of our local tourism industry in Miri, Limbang and Lawas. 

Catching up with our folks in Kampung Moyan Ledang, Asajaya

It has always been great for me to meet our folks in Kampung Moyan Ledang in Asajaya because it is the time when we can catch up with the latest news on the villagers. I had the opportunity to meet them briefly recently after having visited the family home of the late Ketua Kampung (KK) Matthew Pawi Anak Puti who passed away on 21 January. 

I have extended our deepest condolences to the next of kin who was led by Puan Ritty Anak Dagang, the wife of the late KK Matthew. He was the village headman since 2015 and was well respected by the Ibans folks there, the largest community living in Kampung Moyan Ledang.

Most of the villagers are happy with the ongoing road widening project which will accommodate more heavy traffic coming into their area and to enable them to drive about smoothly soon.

 

   

Delightful evening at the "Malaysia-Korea Charity Gala Night 2024"

We had attended the recent "Malaysia-Korea Charity Gala Night 2024" which was organised by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), in collaboration with OCIM Sdn Bhd on 20 January at Damai Lagoon Resort, Santubong. The event was graced by our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg and was accompanied by local dignitaries. 

Among the highlights of the event was the fund raising which had successfully collected a total of RM183,270 and the impromptu performance of the guest of honour who was joined by myself, SEDC's chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Datuk Hussain, and our Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew. Kudos to the organisers for having organised the event meant to highlight education and green initiatives in Sarawak.

Encouraging the organising motoring activities among locals

I was delighted to have been invited to the official launching of "Kawasaki Kuching 2024" program that was organised by Ghee Hua Co. together with their counterparts from Edaran Modenas and DRB HiCom Berhad. The event was held at Ghee Hua's office cum showroom last weekend and the crowd's turnout was good despite the afternoon's downpour.

In my speech, I have mentioned that our Sarawak Government had always encouraged the private sector to play its role in promoting healthy lifestyle among the locals including organising motoring activities that enable people to enjoy going on road trips with friends, colleagues and even family members.

Such activities will also give the opportunity for them to share their common hobby and recreational passion while promoting good bonding via the experiences of riding together.

In fact, riding can provide us with a form of stress relief from the hustle bustle of our hectic life. I am sure many riders agree that the act of riding itself is therapeutic and provide the calming experience when going through scenic routes and breathtaking landscapes in less congested areas out of the city. 

Thanking our media friends for their support and cooperation in highlighting Sarawak Games (SUKSAR)

We take our hats off to our media friends who have extended their fullest support and cooperation in highlighting the recent third edition of Sarawak Games or SUKSAR III which was held at Sibu on 15 to 18 January. They had been instrumental in promoting the various competitions which were held around Sibu with a total of 1,350 athletes from all over Sarawak vying for top honours.

The good publicity on the four-day event had also created much awareness among our folks in Sibu who had attended the various competitions that were staged at various local venues. The publicity given had motivated the athletes themselves as they vie for top honours in the different 13 sporting games which include wushu, indoor volleyball, hockey, pencak silat, taekwondo, cycling, judo, karate, boxing, basketball, weightlifting, sepak takraw and futsal.

The various venue for SUKSAR II events were held at Gelanggang Futsal Kampung Nangka, Dewan Sepak Takraw Kampung Bandong, Stadium Tertutup Bukit Lima, SM Wong Nai Siong, Stadium Tertutup Sibu, Pusat Sukan Komuniti Azman Hashim Sibu Jaya, Sibu Jaya, Dewan MUC Kampung Nyabor, Sibu Jaya-Julau road, Taman Jubli Bukit Aup, Dewan Melayu Melanau, Dewan Bola Tampar Taman Rejang and Gelanggang Bola Keranjang KRT Sungai Antu.

Southern Zome emerged victorious in the 3rd edition of Sukan Sarawak (SUKSAR III)

We congratulate the Southern Zone contingent which had been crowned as champions of the third edition of Sarawak Games (Suksar III) after having collected a total of 63 gold medals, 43 silver and 38 bronze throughout the four-day championship held on 15 to 18 January.

Their Wushu athletes had contributed the highest number of gold medals with 17, followed by taekwondo (11), boxing (nine), silat (nine), weightlifting (five), cycling (four), judo (four), futsal (two), and karate (two).

The Southern Zone contingent was represented by athletes from Kuching, Samarahan and Serian divisions. Their taekwondo athletes namely Fedealis Twin, 16, and Farah Nabilla Maddarus, 20, were awarded the Male and Female Most Promising Athletes for this year's Suksar. 

The Central Zone (Sibu, Mukah, and Kapit) finished second overall with 50 gold medals, 47 silver medals, and 54 bronze medals, followed by the Northern Zone (Miri, Limbang, Bintulu) in third place (49 gold, 56 silver, and 58 bronze) and the Western Zone (Betong, Sri Aman, Sarikei) in fourth place with eight gold medals, 22 silver medals, and 44 bronze medals.