AIRLINES URGED TO OFFER AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES FOR SUKMA IN SARAWAK

ISKANDAR PUTERI, July 21 (Bernama) -- Local Airlines have been urged to offer affordable ticket prices from the peninsula to Sarawak in conjunction with the Malaysia Games (SUKMA XX1) hosted by Sarawak from Aug 17 to 24.

Johor state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said such an initiative would enable supporters and sports fans to travel and watch the SUKMA which is the biggest sporting event in the country.

“If sports tourism packages are offered, it can give a positive economic impact to Sarawak. However, we also hope there will be no flight delays because it has become a concern among travellers," he said after presenting the mandate to the Johor SUKMA contingent, here today.

Also present were Johor State Sports Council director Mohd Ekmaluddin Ishak and Johor SUKMA contingent chef-de-mission Datuk Pandak Ahmad.

He added that Johor remain committed to defend the overall title or rather repeat a similar feat achieved during the previous edition (SUKMA 2022) in Kuala Lumpur by setting a target of 60 gold medals.

Mohd Hairi added that optimism remains high that though canoe was not included in the sports programme for SUKMA, Johor athletes will rise to the occassion and contribute medals that can help clinch the overall title.

Meanwhile, Pandak said Johor’s main gold medal prospect will be athletics while archery, judo, taekwando, silat and football are also in the list of gold medal prospects.

The Johor SUKMA contingent comprise 599 athletes and 198 officials.

In the 2022 SUKMA, Johor emerged as the overall champion with 77 gold, 52 silver, 43 bronze although the initial target was only 40.

-- BERNAMA