Sarawak Backs Proposal To Open Borneo Games To International Participation

KUCHING: Sarawak has expressed support for the proposal to open the Borneo Games to participation from other countries in the future, as an effort to broaden the scope of competition and raise the performance standards of athletes in the region.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the move would allow Bornean athletes to measure their capabilities against international benchmarks, thus serving as a reference point for global sports development.

“I also support the proposal by Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that, if possible, the Games should be opened or extended by invitation to other countries so that we can evaluate our standards against global sporting benchmarks,” he said.

He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Borneo Games Kuching 2025 held at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) Demak, here on Sunday.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari further explained that the Borneo Games is not only a platform for sporting competition but also a means of strengthening friendship, understanding, and solidarity among participating states and regions.

At the same time, he reiterated the Sarawak Government’s commitment to continue investing in sports development, not only for Sarawakians but also to be shared with partners across the region.

He pointed out that Sarawak has agreed to co-host the SEA Games 2027, with the opening ceremony scheduled to take place in Kuching, alongside the upgrading of sports infrastructure which includes the construction of an Athletes’ Village, a new velodrome, and a motorsport circuit.

“These are facilities we are developing as investments to strengthen the discipline of our younger generation through sports while shaping resilience that will enable them to compete at any level,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Dato Sri Abdul Karim who is also the Minister-In-Charge of the Borneo Games Kuching 2025 revealed that two states from Peninsular Malaysia had expressed interest in joining this year’s edition.

However, participation this year was limited only to regions within Borneo.

Nonetheless, he said that in the future, organisers could consider opening participation by invitation to regions or countries outside Borneo.

“For sports, the more competition there is, the better it is for our athletes. By opening it up, it will provide stiffer competition which will in turn help improve their performance, preparations, and readiness,” he stressed.

Also present at the event were Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development who is also the Chairman of Borneo Games Kuching 2025, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development who is also Head of the Sarawak Contingent, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Brunei Darussalam Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Awang Mohamad, Head of the Brunei Darussalam Contingent, Mohamad Rosfazilah Yusly, Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Ellron Angin, Deputy Director-General (Management & Socio Economic) of the Federal Territories and Head of the Labuan Contingent, Dato’ Parang Abai @ Thomas, Deputy Head of Contingent and Chief Delegate of the East Kalimantan Province, Insinyur Husinsyah MT, along with Sarawak Deputy Ministers and other invited guests.

-UKASnews