Simanggang Basketball Club Receives RM30,000 Funding Injection
SIMANGGANG: The Simanggang Basketball Club has received a funding injection of RM30,000 under the Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund as part of efforts to empower sports development at the grassroots level.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis said that the allocation is intended to support the association's ongoing activities and strengthen the teams' preparations for upcoming state-level championships.
In this regard, he encouraged people of all races in the Sri Aman area to actively participate in basketball, noting that it not only improves physical fitness but also builds mental resilience and self-discipline.
“In addition to enhancing physical fitness, basketball also tests our efficiency in handling the ball with our hands and footwork.
“Football or badminton may be more popular than basketball. However, with the right publicity, this sport could gain widespread appeal—not just among the Chinese community, but among other races as well,” he said.
He spoke during the Flag Handover Ceremony for the Simanggang Basketball Club to the Sri Aman Division Contingent Manager for the State-Level Under-17 (U17) Basketball Championship (Boys and Girls) at the Sri Aman Mini Stadium on Thursday.
The Simanggang Assemblyman also emphasised that basketball should not be viewed as an exclusive sport for any single race; instead, participation should be expanded among the Malay and Dayak communities.
The Sri Aman men’s and women’s teams, led by James Bong and Jeff Yew, are scheduled to compete in the State-Level U17 Basketball Championship held from 24 to 29 March at the Sungai Apong Stadium and Chung Hua Middle School No. 1. — UKASnews
