KUCHING: Sarawak plans to host the revived Borneo Games in the second half of this year with five to six sports, says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The state Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister said discussions were ongoing with Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan on participating in the Games, which were last held in 2009.
"We started making approaches (to them) since the end of last year and hopefully this year we will be able to hold it.
"We are looking at after the first half of this year, probably after August. We will try to identify a date up to the end of the year," he told reporters after handing over grants to youth and sports bodies here on Monday (Feb 10).
Abdul Karim said the sports to be included in the Games were still at the discussion stage, but would most likely include athletics.
He said Sarawak would like to include swimming and tenpin bowling, subject to agreement from the other participating teams.
"As the years go by, the number of sports will increase, and I want to see the Borneo Games become a prime sports tournament within this region one day," he said.
Abdul Karim also said there was a positive response to the Borneo Games, particularly from Sabah and Brunei.
"As for Kalimantan, they have so many provinces, so we might just look at West and South Kalimantan," he said.
He added that the Games might be expanded in future to other states in Malaysia which had shown interest in taking part.
However, he said their participation would be by invitation only.
"We may even invite regions like Australia's Northern Territory. That would give the Games much better competition," he said.
Earlier, Abdul Karim handed over grants totalling RM1.9mil from his ministry to 42 youth and sports organisations.
He said the grants were meant for the associations to conduct meetings and similar activities.
"If you want to host events or develop sports facilities, come to the ministry with your proposal and we will look for the funds," he added.
