Incentive For Sarawak Medallists Set To Be Higher Than Other Contingents

KUCHING, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The incentive amount for Sarawak medallists at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) will be more than that given by the other states, said state Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister  Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to announce it at the medal presentation ceremony for taekwondo at the Unity Stadium here tomorrow.

“I dare say the amount offered by the state government is extremely lucrative. I hope our athletes can bag more gold medals for Sarawak,” he said after officiating the launch of the 2024 Sarawak SUKMA Games Village at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in Kota Samarahan today.

So far, Selangor and Johor have each announced the highest incentives of up to RM10,000 for a gold medal for SUKMA 2024, followed by Pahang (RM6,000); and Perlis, Perak, Federal Territories, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (RM5,000 each) while Penang, Sabah, Kelantan and Terengganu are still mulling over it.

Kelantan have yet to announce any incentives for their SUKMA 2024 medallists.

Abdul Karim also said that all issues or complaints regarding sports facilities, logistics and athlete accommodation would be addressed promptly and as efficiently as possible by the staff.

SUKMA 2024 will see 37 sports contested, involving 488 events (236 men’s; 217 women’s, 35 mixed) and they will all be held in nine divisions in the state, namely Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.

SUKMA, introduced in 1986, has been held in Sarawak twice before - in 1990 and 2016.

In conjunction with SUKMA 2024 from Aug 17-24, Bernama has set up a special website sukma.bernama.com, which offers news and the latest developments on state contingents and their achievements along with interesting stories of athletes competing at the biennial Games.

-- BERNAMA