KUALA LUMPUR: The government should upgrade sports facilities at the Sipitang and Beaufort Sports Complexes to better support sports development and cater to the needs of the local communities, said Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah.
He also called for more sports facilities to be provided in villages, saying these could serve as platforms for young people to develop and hone their talents.
Speaking in support of the Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Matbali said sports development should not be concentrated only in major cities.
“If we truly want to produce champions, we must build courts in villages, provide fields in districts and create opportunities for children in rural areas.
“Champions are not necessarily born in large stadiums. Sometimes, a champion begins in a small court in a remote village,” he said.
Matbali, who is also Chairman of the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB), said Sipitang was among the districts that had produced several sports legends and athletes who had made their mark on the national sporting scene.
Among them were footballers Andrew Laban, Ronny Harun and Mafry Balang.
More recently, Sipitang-born athlete Gerfan Nigel Frank made his mark on the track by winning gold at SUKMA Selangor 2026 in the men’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.55 metres.
In 2023, Sipitang also brought glory to Sabah on the international stage when traditional archer Ismail Jumat won a bronze medal for Malaysia at the European Traditional Open Archery (ETO) Championships in Germany.
Another Sipitang-born archer, Rohayati Tarip @ Tariff, finished fourth at the same championships.
Meanwhile, Matbali said the facilities at the Sipitang Sports Complex needed to be upgraded as it was the main venue for residents to engage in recreational and sporting activities, as well as community programmes.
He also called for the facilities and amenities at the Beaufort Sports Complex to be upgraded.
At present, the complex has basic facilities including a running track, football field and open courts for volleyball, basketball and futsal.
“It is proposed that the ministry add facilities at the complex, including an indoor games hall, hockey field, lawn bowls facilities, a swimming pool and floodlights for the football field,” he said.
On the Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026, Matbali said the amendments were timely and in line with the evolving needs of the country’s sports sector.
“We also need to strengthen the governance and oversight of sports bodies. This will ensure that every sports body operates in accordance with its constitution, with integrity and accountability, while putting the interests of athletes first,” he said.
