Site visit to our Borneo Cricket Ground which is now ready to host the 2025 ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup matches

I had the opportunity to visit the Borneo Cricket Ground at Petra Jaya, Kuching with fine weather still prevailing at that time. The construction of the administrative block and spectators sitting area had been completed with the overall workmanship to be satisfactory.

Kudos to those who were involved in the speedy completion of the facility which is just in time for the forthcoming 2025 International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup group matches that are scheduled to be played there on 18 to 28 January.

The Sarawak government has allocated RM6.5 million to upgrade the which will serve as one of the hosting venues for future world-class events. I have also confirmed with our media friends yesterday that the physical construction work has been completed, with only some cleanup work and the issuance of the Occupation Permit (OP) remaining. 

The cricket field was already in use for last year's 21st edition of Malaysia Games (Sukma), but the additional facilities were only proposed to the State cabinet in September 2024. At the last September's cabinet meeting, I had presented the proposal specifically for this facility because it would have been a shame for us to host a world-class event using "sun tents". That is why we need this kind of facility and the Cabinet, without objection, approved it.

Our Borneo Cricket Ground now includes a broadcast room, café, changing rooms, and other amenities to accommodate international standards with th final touches, including the installation of furnitures and landscaping, are expected to be completed soon.

Questioning the motives behind the poll by academician on Sarawak’s Dayak leaders

Yesterday I had slammed as “biased and unfair” the recent survey which had evaluated the performance of Dayak ministers and deputy ministers in Sarawak.

I have also questioned the motive of the poll conducted by Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow, Professor Jayum Jawan which had generated mixed responses from our local including leaders. 

Why do you identify only Dayak ministers and deputy ministers? If you want to do an assessment, do it for everyone – the Malays and Chinese. I had mentioned these questions to our media friends who had seek my comments as well as reactions on this matter. I have said and suggested that there may be an agenda behind the “selective evaluation”. I have also took issue with the reported sample size of 183 respondents, saying it presented a “significant flaw” in the survey.

It was possible the pollster may have chosen his own test group, and that if one’s friends were anti-government “of course, they will say negative things”.

According to Professor Jayum, only three of the 18 Dayak ministers and deputy ministers at the federal and state levels had received an approval rating of 50 percent. and above for their performance. I have also questioned the timing of the survey and believed that it is linked to the upcoming state election.

We are close to the election and such findings could unfairly undermine the credibility of the ministers and the premier’s selection for the Cabinet,” he said, adding that it was inappropriate to single out Dayak ministers. Some of our Dayak deputy ministers in Sarawak government had recently reacted negatively to the ratings and questioned the methodology as well as the criteria used in the survey.

Getting excited with the forthcoming Int'l Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Women's Under-19 World Cup tourney preliminary matches in Kuching

It was a pleasure for us to have met the right honourable Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar who is Patron of Malaysia Cricket Association (MCA) who is presently in Kuching city. He was with us at yesterday’s press conference on the forthcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup to be held in Kuching on 18 to 28 January 2025. 

We also had also officially unveiled the championship trophy which is now available for our local folks to see at Plaza Merdeka shopping mall and Viva City shopping mall. Kuching City is also the last leg of the trophy’s tour which had covered Kuala Lumpur and Johor before arriving here last night.  

Teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria and Samoa are coming to Sarawak where in total 10 out of 42 matches in this year’s cricket world cup are to be played here. All matches are to be broadcasted “Live” to over 180 countries via Star Sports channel and through ICC official platforms and applications.

I had also congratulated our Sarawak women’s cricket team’s victory in the recent MCA 2025 Women’s T20 Interstate championship where they defeated Selangor by 44 runs in the finals. The continuous efforts by our Sarawak Cricket Association (SCA) supported by the Sarawak State Sport Council and Sarawak Sport Corporation, are expected to boost cricket’s popularity and reach across Sarawak especially among the youngsters and students. 

We also extended best wishes to the Malaysian team captain, Nur Dania Syuhada who is a Sarawakian and the Malaysia women’s cricket team as they prepare for the World Cup. Our local folks are invited to attend the 10 cricket matches, which will feature the best women’s under-19 cricket teams from all over the world. 

Great start to 2025 with nostalgic Bonnie M 50th Anniversary Tour concert at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)

It was a sold out concert at the recent "Boney M 50th Anniversary Tour 2025" which was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). For the 4,000 concert-goers who were there, it was a night of nostalgia as they danced along to the funky disco beats and sang the lyrics as the band performed, led by original band member Maizie Williams with Kelly Rahman, Samantha Scott, and Doreen Patel. 

They had brought disco back to Kuching and throughout the night, Boney M delighted concert-goers with hits like ‘Rasputin’, which experienced a surge in popularity thanks to TikTok, and ‘Daddy Cool’—cementing their global status as disco legends. 

I was also present at the concert together with my wife as it was the ministry’s first event of the year in 2025. It is a great start for the State’s tourism, our ministry and the event organisers. With the support of the Sarawak government and adequate funding for more events, I am optimistic that the State’s target of five million visitors for 2025 is achievable. 

The targeted number of visitors for 2025 could generate an estimated RM10 billion in revenue of tourism receipts for the State. Therefore, kudos to all the agencies under our ministry for their efforts in promoting Sarawak regionally and internationally. I believe that with continued hard work, we will reach our target of five million visitors this year. This year we also have a new airline, which should help us reach our goal.

Sarawak being the preferred destinations for Indonesian tourists

Sarawak is now among the preferred destinations for tourists coming from Indonesia and this is a very encouraging development. Previously that a large number of the State’s tourist influx were from neighbouring Brunei Darulsalam, but the numbers of those from Indonesia were starting to increase. I

In fact, I myself realised this a few days before the 2025 New Year celebration due to congestion reported at the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex in Serian. This is a good indicator because it will contribute to our local economy and boost the tourism sector. 

Most of the tourists from Indonesia are mainly from Jakarta, Pontianak, and Sambas in West Kalimantan of Indonesia. The influx of tourists from our neighbouring country had reflected the effectiveness of Sarawak’s promotion programmes abroad. This development is certainly welcomed because Sarawak has set a target of receiving more than five million tourists for year 2025.