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The Star
an hour ago
- Lifestyle
- The Star
Kuching marathon to showcase capital's colonial and cultural charm
THE 10th edition of the Kuching Marathon (KM2025), scheduled for Sept 21, will offer participants an illuminating journey through Kuching's rich cultural and colonial heritage. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Enterpreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said KM2025 aims to strengthen Kuching's presence on the world map by promoting the city as a hub for sports, recreation and tourism, while fostering a healthy lifestyle. 'Among the highlights of this year's edition is the improved 42km full marathon race route, offering runners a more scenic course. 'For the first time, all participants who complete their race within the cut-off time, including those in the 10km and 5km categories, will receive a finisher's T-shirt. 'This is in addition to the event T-shirt and a specially designed finisher's medal,' he told Bernama. Abdul Karim said to date, KM2025 has attracted a total of 7,822 registered runners, comprising 6,719 Malaysians and 1,103 international participants. He added that most of the local runners are from Sarawak, while foreign participants hail from countries like Brunei, Canada, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Maldives, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. KM2025 is a distance running road race event consisting of Kuching Full Marathon (42km), Kuching Half Marathon (21km), Kuching 10km run and Kuching 5km run. It is an international road race recognised by Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) as listed in the AIMS Race Calendar at
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Sarawak on track for 5 million tourists this year
Sarawak welcomed 4.83 million visitors in 2024 – a 23% increase from the previous year. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Sarawak is on track to achieving its target of five million visitors in 2025 after welcoming over 1.6 million in the first four months of the year. Tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the current visitor numbers also gave him confidence that Sarawak could earn RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts this year, reported Bernama. 'Tourism receipts reached RM12.45 billion in 2024, up from RM9.99 billion in 2023. From January to April this year alone, we have already generated RM4.07 billion,' he said at the Sarawak state assembly today. He said Sarawak welcomed 4.83 million visitors in 2024 – a 23% increase from the previous year – surpassing the pre-pandemic level in 2019 by 3.63% He added that most international tourists to Sarawak were from neighbouring Asean countries such as Brunei (1.89 million), Indonesia (653,883), Singapore (59,793), and the Philippines (46,853). Karim said Sarawak had allocated RM382.57 million for tourism development under the 12th Malaysia Plan, supplemented by RM136.44 million under Projek Rakyat and RM49.9 million in federal funding via the tourism, arts and culture ministry. Completed projects include the conservation of historical forts, ecotourism facilities at Santubong National Park, upgrades to the Melasak Waterfall Tourism Centre, and enhancements at the Sarawak Cultural Village. On the Sarawak–Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme, Karim said 3,141 applications had been approved since the programme began in 2007. He said 560 approvals under SMM2H generated RM111.6 million in fixed deposits last year, while 265 approvals in early 2025 contributed another RM65.3 million. Most of the programme's participants are from China, the UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the US.
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Stadium Sarawak upgrades hinge on available budget ― Minister
KUCHING (May 27): The redevelopment of Stadium Sarawak remains a key focus in Sarawak's push to become a regional sports hub, though the final scope of upgrades will depend heavily on available funding, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. The Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister said while the stadium is an essential venue for athletics and opening ceremonies of various sport events, financial considerations will ultimately determine the extent of its redevelopment. 'We will have to see. Cost is always one of the main factors ― whether we want to proceed with the development, and at what stage,' he told a press conference after delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here earlier today. Abdul Karim noted that aside from Stadium Sarawak, there are 18 other sports to be hosted, each requiring facility upgrades. 'If the budget does not allow for full upgrades, we may have to determine which improvements are sufficient for the stadium to accommodate the sport events and the opening ceremony,' he said. Earlier, during his speech, Abdul Karim reaffirmed the state government's commitment to developing sports infrastructure across Sarawak in its efforts to make the state a regional sports hub. 'Led by the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), key initiatives include upgrading grassroots and elite sports facilities to improve access, talent development and quality of life. 'A highlight is the redevelopment of Stadium Sarawak, which is set to meet international standards with smart and athlete-friendly features,' he said. He added that SSC will also implement a Critical Maintenance Audit Plan to ensure long-term sustainability of sport facilities.
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Minister: Sarawak committed to developing young football talent
Abdul Karim admitted that the future of Sarawak football remains uncertain, facing not only issues with players but also with sponsors. – File photo KUCHING (May 27): Sarawak will continue to implement football talent development programmes to produce quality players who can contribute to the state football team in the future, said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the International Youth Football Championship, which kicks off today and runs until June 1 here. 'We are not running away from them (talent development), but sometimes when we develop players up to the age of 18 or 19, they disappear. 'Some states do not develop talent but instead lure them by offering high salaries, causing players to leave,' he told a press conference after delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. Abdul Karim pointed out that the future of Sarawak football remains uncertain, facing not only issues with players but also with sponsors. 'I noticed there are problems not just within Sarawak football but also across the national football scene. At one point, they wanted state associations to look after it, and now they want it to be run by clubs only. 'When it's a club, it becomes more a bit more difficult for us (the Sarawak Sports Corporation and the ministry) to be involved. 'We would rather the clubs get support from the private sector, with the government supporting in moderation when necessary.' He added that if the ministry is expected to continue financing an underperforming team, it would pose a 'big problem'. 'Unless we have somebody like TMJ (Tunku Mahkota of Johor) or the Sultan of Johor residing in Sarawak who is willing to dish out everything,' he quipped.
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Abdul Karim: Sarawak to develop untapped lake tourism potentials
Abdul Karim speaking to reporters during a press conference at today's DUN sitting. KUCHING (May 27): The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts will be collaborating with relevant ministries and agencies in planning and developing lake tourism potentials, guided by the Sarawak Hydro Lakes Management and Development Plan 2030. Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak's natural and man-made lakes present a significant and largely untapped potential for lake tourism. 'These aquatic environments offer unique opportunities to diversify our tourism offerings. 'To fully realise the potential of lake tourism in Sarawak, it is crucial for us to ensure local community participation, creating a variety of appealing activities, targeted marketing and improving accessibility through investments in road and boat transportation,' he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today. He told the august House that Sarawak, with its strategic location bordering Indonesia's Kalimantan and Brunei Darussalam, also possessed significant potential for border tourism, offering unique opportunities and benefits. 'A majority of Bruneians and Indonesians enter Sarawak by land. In 2024, the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) Complex in Sungai Tujuh recorded 697,666 Bruneian visitors, followed by Pandaruan (290,111), Mengkalap (306,130) and Tedungan (311,619). 'Meanwhile, CIQS Tebedu recorded 280,884 Indonesian visitors, followed by Biawak (137,454) and Lubok Antu (50,124),' he said. He said the relocation of Indonesia's capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan presents a significant opportunity for Sarawak to position itself as a beneficiary of the increased regional activity. Abdul Karim also touched on the state's health tourism sector which has experienced significant growth last year, according to the Malaysia Health Tourism Council (MHTC). 'In 2024, Sarawak's health tourism sector attracted 68,655 health visitors, a 6.6 per cent increase from the 64,393 recorded in 2023. 'This surge in visitors translated to a substantial 13.65 per cent rise in revenue, reaching RM141.5 million in 2024 compared to RM124.5 million in the previous year.' He pointed out that Indonesia and China were the primary drivers of Sarawak's health tourism revenue last year, with Indonesian visitors accounting for 52,850 arrivals and revenue of RM127 million, while Chinese visitors contributing to 3,565 arrivals and revenue of RM3.6 million. Brunei health visitors accounted for 3,239 arrivals with revenue of RM2.5 million; the Philippines with 1,061 arrivals and revenue of RM1.04 million; and India with 808 arrivals and revenue of RM0.6 million, he added. Moving forward, Abdul Karim said the Sarawak Tourism Board is strengthening health tourism promotion through close collaboration with MHTC and participation in the Malaysia Healthcare Expo.
