Adenan (centre) addresses the press conference as (from right) Abdul Karim, Morshidi, Manyin and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian look on.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has pledged special incentives for the Sarawak contingent if they emerge as overall champions in the 2016 Malaysian Games (Sukma).
“Definitely there will be incentives. Yes, there will be generous incentives,” he said when answering questions at a press conference after the state cabinet were briefed on the 2016 Sukma preparations at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today (July 15).
Sarawak is hosting the Sukma XVIII games, with the opening ceremony scheduled to be held at Sarawak Stadium, Petra Jaya on July 23.
Adenan also spoke about his wish to see Sarawak ending a 22-year drought by finishing as Sukma overall champions this year.
He said he was quite confident this can be achieved, as Sarawak’s athletes are well prepared and have trained and worked hard in order to achieve this target.
“We expect to do quite well this time around, as we hope to relive the glory days of old when the late Datuk Taha Arrifin led the contingent.
“I am quite confident, looking at the faces and enthusiasm (of the athletes and officials), that we can achieve it. We expect 72 gold medals but that is a conservative figure,” he said.
Among the sports events where Sarawak is expected to get the lion’s share of gold medals are aquatic sports, golf tenpin bowling, wushu, taekwondo and tennis.
Present at the briefing today were Minister of Youth and Sports and Solidarity Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who is also the Sarawak contingent chef-de-mission and State Secretary Tan Sri Morshidi Abdul Ghani, who is also Sukma XVIII organising chairman.