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Sarawak accepts IPC decision to cancel swimming championships – Abg Johari

Abang Johari (second left) uses his mobile phone to snap photos during the event. Also seen is his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang (right).

KUCHING: Sarawak accepts the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to strip Malaysia of the right to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships following the federal government’s decision to ban Israeli athletes from participating.
          According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, the state government generally accepted the decision of the international body but still respected Malaysia’s actions.
      “This tournament is an international event hosted by Malaysia and the country has a stand against Israel’s athletes while Sarawak is just a place to play. So, we are in agreement with the federal government’s decision because it involves the country, and it is in line with international decisions,” he said when met during the 
     ‘Experience Sarawak’ programme held at the Kopi O’ Corner here on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also said that he was saddened by IPC’s decision because Sarawak was fully prepared to host the international competition which was scheduled to be held from July 29 to Aug 4 this year.
        However, he said the decision had to be accepted with an open heart despite a feeling of disappointment.
     “We have been preparing to organise this event and many meetings have been held either here in the country or overseas. As a matter of fact, until yesterday (Saturday), 64 countries have confirmed their participation plus 1,678 athletes and officials have agreed to participate in this sport, having done hotel reservations, flights and so on.
     “But even though we have said this to the IPC, they still disappoint us for the reason that when approval was granted to Malaysia to hold the games, a separate prerequisite in the body could not exclude any country. Thus we as a state in the Federation of Malaysia should be in line with the decision of the country as this is the decision of Malaysia’s foreign policy, so we have to agree even though the policy was made by the new government,” he said in a press conference shortly after the event with Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who was also responsible for handling the championships.
         Commenting on IPC president Andrew Parsons’s statement that Malaysia’s decision on Israel’s athletes was political, Abdul Karim described IPC’s actions to undermine Malaysia’s rights to organise the sport as a political game.
        “Just because of one country, Malaysia is treated like this. For me, this is a political act.   They do not take into account the countries that accept Malaysia as the host.”

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My comments:

Abang Johari will feel sorry for lacking of the political will to insist on the fact that sports should bypass the politics.  Abg Johari is too complaisant to federal's will to care about the feelings of Sarawakians in general.  He will taste his incapability in 2021 Sarawak election.  Just wait and see!