Sports in Sarawak are governed by policies and acts that are used at the federal level.
According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sarawak (MYSS) in a written response to RAKAN Sarawak, these policies or acts include the National Sports Policy and the National Sports Council of Malaysia Act 1971.
The National Sports Policy is a sport development policy that aims to create a sport culture and strengthen integration within Malaysia via a “comprehensive participation of society and achieving excellence at the international level.”
It outlines various objectives, strategies, roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders to ensure that sport remains a vital social sector and a highly potential industry that can contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.
These stakeholders comprise, but not limited to, government agencies; non-governmental organisations; sport councils; sport, recreational and fitness associations; tertiary institutions; others sport bodies and individuals involved in sports.
The National Sports Council of Malaysia Act 1971 is enacted to establish the National Sports Council (MSN) of Malaysia and provide for matters related to the council.
MSN Sarawak was formed under this act in October 1985, and strives to turn Sarawak into a sport powerhouse in Malaysia by training and producing world-class athletes, coaches and sport management.
The State council’s objectives and responsibilities are similar to that of Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), which was officially created in 2016 and is governed under the Sarawak Sports Corporation Ordinance 2009.
Among its numerous functions, SSC is responsible in the management and maintenance of sport complexes and facilities, development of sports and games in the State, coordination with sport associations, and provision of recommendations to the Sarawak Government on policies and methodologies to enhance sport quality.
Both SSC and MSN Sarawak are MYSS’s sport supervisory agencies, particularly in supporting the Ministry’s efforts in planning, developing and implementing a holistic youth and sport programme in Sarawak in line with its vision of becoming “A World Class Youth and Sport for All By 2030”.
Such efforts involves producing internationally competitive established and aspiring athletes, irrespective of age or disabilities, not only in sports as seen in Sukma, SEA Games, Olympics and Paralympics, but also in mass, traditional, extreme and recreational sports.
The Ministry is also focusing on increasing the number of internationally qualified coaches and instructors, revitalise Sarawak’s traditional games, carrying out a variety of sports for all ages, and most importantly organising more international sporting events.
Promoting sports through these events provides exposure to local athletes, allows networking among local sport managers and enthusiasts with their international counterpart, attracts sport organisers to Sarawak as a preferred hosting destination, and ultimately boosts the State economy through sport tourism.
Going forward, MYSS is in the midst of formulating new policies that will be more relevant to Sarawak.
To that end, the ministry has established the Policy, Quality and Inspectorate Section – the first ministry in Sarawak to do so – to “plan, supervise and implement the creation of these policies in line with Sarawak’s digital economy.”
Future policies, together with the Sarawak Youth Index, will become guidelines for the Sarawak Government as it prepares its Youth and Sports Development Master Plan.
