State Stadium Upgrading Project Receives RM7.05 Million Funding Boost
KUCHING: The State Stadium upgrading project has received a RM7.05 million allocation from the Sarawak Government after serving as the state’s iconic football venue for nearly 43 years.
Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu said the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) has been appointed as the implementing agency to carry out comprehensive improvements to ensure the stadium facilities remain safe, modern and compliant with current standards.
“Among the main scopes of work are upgrading spectator seating, installing new LED lighting systems and LED screens, upgrading ticket counters, refurbishing changing rooms, toilets and surau facilities, as well as improving existing infrastructure,” he said.
He said this when responding to a question raised by Tupong Assemblyman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Wednesday.
Elaborating further, he said the project would provide a more conducive environment for organising football competitions at various levels, including the Sarawak Premier League which serves as an important platform for the development of local players and community clubs before progressing to higher levels.
Touching on grassroots sports development, he said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) through SSC continuously encourages and strengthens strategic cooperation between state sports associations, the Sarawak State Education Department, as well as other agencies and stakeholders to ensure sports development at school and grassroots levels can be implemented in a more organised manner across various sporting disciplines.
“This includes the development of coaches among teachers, the implementation of talent identification programmes across multiple sports, the organisation of school and community competitions, as well as the coordination of athlete development pathways in a more systematic manner,” he explained.
At the same time, he added that SSC also continuously organises Level 1 to Level 3 sports science courses to produce more qualified and capable coaches across various sports disciplines. -UKASnews
