Karim (second, right) with Ong (right), Liew (left) and Kameri during the meeting at a local hotel yesterday.
KUCHING: The new chef-de-mission of the Sarawak Sukma contingent Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah met state team officials for the first time at a local hotel yesterday.
Team officials gave status reports on their preparations for this year’s Sukma.
Karim, who is also Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, believes all preparations by the state to hosting the national games are going well and Sarawak is on track to organise a very successful 2016 Sukma.
“Our meeting was very positive. They gave me details about their preparation for the coming Sukma and after listening to their respective reports, we hope that Sarawak can achieve its targets that the team have set before the games,” he said.
He also reiterated Sarawak’s quest to take advantage of home ground and become overall Sukma champions again.
Karim officially began his duty as chef-de-mission yesterday.
“I only received the letter (of appointment) a few days ago. I hope that under my stewardship, Sarawak will achieve great heights in Sukma,” he added.
The last time Sarawak were Sukma champions was in 1994 and the state last hosted the multi-sports event in 1992.
Also present at the meeting were MSNS director and State Sports Coorporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee, board of director member Dato Patrick Liew and Ministry of Youth and Sports and Solidarity permanent secretary Kameri Affendi.
24 sports will be contested in the 18th Sukma from July 22 to 31.