Appointment of Karim and Snowdan lauded

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Karim (second right) receiving a memento from Liew during the opening ceremony of the Sukma XVIII tennis competition at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Centre in July last year.

KUCHING: Sarawak sports leaders yesterday hailed the appointment of Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports and Snowdan Lawan as the Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports and believed that they could bring Sarawak sports to greater heights.

In congratulating Karim for being made a full minister, Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association president Dato Patrick Liew said it is a challenge for the former and he felt confident that Karim would do a good job.

“I have known Karim when he was assistant chef de mission for previous Sukma and chef de mission for Sukma XVIII and we have sat in the Sarawak State Sports Council board meetings concerning Sukma.

“He is an outspoken, dynamic and action-oriented person and always take constructive criticism very seriously and takes appropriate action or get the relevant parties to set things right,” he said.

Liew said it was very fortunate that the Sarawak sports fraternity has a good and strong leader like Karim who is also a keen in sports and a big biker.

“Karim is very passionate in sports and understand the sports associations, athletes and parents well. I am very confident that he is capable of bringing Sarawak sports to greater heights and even to professional level,” he added.

According to Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak president Dato Wee Hong Seng, the new portfolio would not be a problem to Karim.

“During his time as assistant minister, he has always been hands down and hands on in major sports events in the state, the most significant of which was when the state hosted the prestigious Sukma and National Paralympics last year as well as the recent Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open badminton championship.

“Even on last year’s FINA diving championship he had a few rounds of meeting with ASAS to ensure that things would run smoothly and my meetings with him when he was still the assistant minister signifies his focus and deep commitment in the development of youth and sports in Sarawak,” said Wee.

Snowdan Lawan

As for Snowdan, Wee said the Balai Ringin assemblyman had been working hard all this while and was an official in Sukma preparations and hosting of the games.

“We wish them all the best and are looking forward to working together with them in the near future,” he added.

Sarawak Boxing Association president Dato Rahman Lariwoo, who is now in Kazakhstan with the national boxing squad on a training stint, also believes that Karim can develop sport in Sarawak to the best level.

“By planning and organising Sukan Sarawak (Suksa) and the Borneo Games which involves Indonesia, Brunei, Labuan, Sabah and Philippines, this will project Sarawak’s image as a sports powerhouse.

“I believe that an experienced person like Karim can change the landscape of sports in the state. Snowdan is young and energetic and loves sports. He can assist Karim in this portfolio,” said Rahman who also congratulated the duo on their appointments to the Sarawak Cabinet.

“With the appointments of Karim and Snowdan, Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) are looking forward to a brighter future for all sports to venture in years to come as both are young, open minded, very keen and familiar with sports development in Sarawak,” said WFS president Allen Wong Siew Poh.

“I would say they are the right ministers in the right place. With them in the ministry, all planning on international sports events will be carried out more smoothly in the move to promoting Sarawak to the world through such events,” he added.

“It (the appointments) is good for sports as both Karim and Snowdan are involved with the sports community in the state. Both are young and energetic and Karim is a capable leader with passion,” said Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak president Robert Lau Hui Yew.

Mohd Salleh Sani, president of Sarawak Taekwondo Association (WTF) is happy that Karim and Snowdan have been given the responsibility to lead sports development in the state.

“I am happy that YB Abdul Karim and YB Snowdan have been appointed Mininister and Assistant Minister of sport because they both fit the positions.

During the recent Sukma they made Sarawak proud by contributing significantly in making the games a success and they were always around in the games venues.”

Mohd Salleh added that they proved their commitment to sports in the state by their performance when the state hosted the recent Sukma.

“Congratulations to both of them and we in Taekwondo fully support them in order to make Sarawak a power house in the country.”