KUCHING, Preparations for the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2024, which will take place in Sarawak next month are now over 90 per cent completed. Sarawak SUKMA 2024 chief executive officer, who is also the Deputy State Secretary, Datu Hii Chang Kee, said that amid various challenges, he is confident that the preparations, now in their final stages, will proceed smoothly. He explained that unpredictable weather conditions are among the challenges for the contractors to complete the sports facilities to be used for SUKMA. 'Other challenges include logistical factors since SUKMA involves several divisions across Sarawak, but with the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway, our movement has been facilitated. 'Other than that, the sports village, food preparation through vendors, security aspects, as well as volunteers for the Games, have all been arranged,' he told Bernama after receiving a courtesy call from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) delegation led by its chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamal udin at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today. Also present were Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, deputy executive editor Elmi Rizal Elias and Sarawak Bureau chief Hamdan Ismail. On May 14, Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that 24 sports facilities had been identified to be upgraded and three new facilities were under construction ahead of SUKMA 2024. The overall upgrading and construction work, costing around RM200 million, is expected to be completed this month. SUKMA 2024 will be held across the nine divisions in Sarawak, namely Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri, from Aug 17 to 24. A total of 37 types of sports will be contested involving 488 events consisting of 236 men's events, 217 women's events, and 35 mixed events, which will see the participation of 12,619 athletes and officials. SUKMA, which was introduced in 1986, has been held in Sarawak twice, in 1990 and 2016. Source: BER NAMA News Agency