(From left) Moh, Lau, Jalil, Hii, Ting and Joseph at yesterday’s press conference.
SIBU: National Sports Council (NSC) deputy director Datuk Jalil Abdullah was clearly impressed by the RM10 million Sibu Volleyball
Association Indoor Stadium which will host the Sukma volleyball competition.
Commending the initiative of Sibu Volleyball Association (SVA) in building the stadium, he hoped that it would be emulated by others in the private sector.
“I really appreciate what had been done by SVA as it shows that the private sector do not necessary have to rely on the government in bringing sports development to a higher level. “The stadium itself is built by the private sector and this is the trend all of us ought to emulate,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Attending the event were Sarawak Volleyball Association president Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau, Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) president Dr Gregory Hii, Sva’s president Dr William Ting Wei Ung, chairman Dato Moh Wung Ming and Mava secretary Joseph Gerard.
With such a big stadium, Jalil believed, Sva could generate income in future as it could be put to multiple uses such as catering to wedding reception or for holding functions. He remarked that those in Kuala Lumpur who like to make use of such buildings have to make a 12- month advance booking.
Jalil took the opportunity to pay tribute to Sibu which has historically been producing volleyball champions.
“I still remember some of the big names of volleyball players who played for the country and many of them actually came from Sibu,” he said, attributing the achievement to SVA.
He also disclosed that the Sukma Supreme Council has decided to cap the number of sports to only 24 for all future Sukma so as to save the burden and the extra costs incurred by the hosting states and the participating teams.