Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
KUCHING: The Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) is unlikely to get the piece of land they have requested from the Sarawak government to build their own centre.
However, the government will provide the training venue for them at the Sarawak Stadium Sports Complex.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the State government has stopped the practice of granting land to sports associations because the majority of them have not used the land to fulfill their original objectives.
“As much as possible, we would want to see our sports prosper, whatever sports they be. We all know that to get all sports to have a proper venue, stadium, and facilities will cost millions and millions of ringgit.
“We have to identify the kind of sports that are being well managed with the kind of dedication, passion and commitment from the officials …these are the ones we should give priority to,” Karim said after presenting state colours to the Sarawak wushu team bound for the National Wushu Championships in Penang this weekend, at Bangunan Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya on Thursday.
He was pleased to note that Sarawak wushu athletes Loh Jack Chang and Diana Bong Siong Lin had contributed three gold medals to Malaysia at the recent 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The minister said he had visited the elite wushu training centre at Kota Sentosa Sports Centre and was not satisfied with what he saw.
“From my personal observation, the place is really not that conducive. It doesn’t look that clean, a bit sandy and when it rains the rain water comes in and affects the carpet also. I feel it is not hygienic for the athletes too.
“Looking back at the contribution from wushu to the state they deserve a better place for training and we will definitely look into the proposal to have a permanent venue for training within the Sarawak Stadium Sports Complex where they can have the proper training and for us to develop this sport,” he added.
Karim said the proposal for the proper wushu training facility will be discussed during the coming Sarawak Sports Corporation board meeting.
“We will be looking into a few matters during the meeting, one probably is wushu, sports village and how to have our own sports school,” he said.
“We will have to plan the place. it is within the power of the ministry to identify the place and to make recommendations to the State government through the State Cabinet for whatsoever facility we need to construct or develop in that place
“I believe getting the money would not be much of a problem as it is not going to cost very much. With the contribution that wushu has given to the state, it will definitely be given due recognition,” said Karim.