KUALA LUMPUR, 7 August 2025 – UEM Sunrise Berhad (“UEM Sunrise” or the “Company”) continues its commitment to youth development and placemaking with its inaugural Grom Games 2025. The skateboarding competition is aimed at nurturing young talent and contributing to Malaysia’s broader sporting aspirations.
Held on 27 July at Publika’s community space, The Square, the event offered a healthy outlet for children and teenagers to step away from their devices. It brought together over 50 young skaters aged 15 and below, also known as “groms”, a skateboarding slang for young or beginner skateboarders. These groms showcased their skills in front of supportive parents, participants and fellow skate enthusiasts.
With skateboarding now an Olympic sport, Grom Games offered young skaters an early exposure to competitive skateboarding and sparked aspirations to one day represent Malaysia. Initiatives like this uncover and nurture talent from a young age, especially with growing support from government and sporting bodies.
Organised in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur-based skateboarding academy, JR Skates, Grom Games builds upon a series of UEM Sunrise sponsored skateboarding clinics designed to nurture confidence, resilience and skill among young skaters. To date, over 280 participants, many who were first timers, have taken part in the clinics.
The event was graced by the presence of Sabran Abd Bahar, Director of Youth and Sports Development for Kuala Lumpur and Dr Raihana Sharir, Vice President of the Malaysia Skate Federation (MYSKATE), alongside senior management of UEM Sunrise.
Hafizuddin Sulaiman, the Officer-in-Charge and Chief Financial Officer of UEM Sunrise said, “We are honoured to contribute towards the growth of skateboarding as a sport in Malaysia. We are grateful to have JR Skates, MYSKATE and the Ministry of Youth and Sports along this journey,”
“Beyond the competitive element, the event champions creativity, resilience and a sense of community. It reflects UEM Sunrise’s broader vision as a master developer to create environments and to curate activities that connect and uplift communities.”
Joseph Romy, Founder and Head Coach of JR Skates said, “We have seen the kids grow tremendously in their confidence and skills. The support from UEM Sunrise has enabled us to take this initiative further, and the turnout at Grom Games reflects the passion we have nurtured over time.”
For many parents, this initiative proved to be a rewarding experience. Siti Aisya Abdullah, whose daughters participated in the event said, “It was such a well-run programme. My kids had a great time, and it is wonderful to see UEM Sunrise hosting events like these. We are looking forward to more.”
Guided by its core CSR pillars of Education Enhancement and Community Engagement, the programme promotes learning through skill-building and character development and fosters stronger social bonds through inclusive participation. It also encourages active and outdoor lifestyles that align with environmental well-being.
UEM Sunrise plans to strengthen partnerships with Ministry of Youth and Sports, schools, youth organisations and sports councils to build a more robust ecosystem for urban sports in Malaysia. Together, these efforts aim to nurture active lifestyle within youths, cultivate a sense of belonging and reinforce environmental responsibility within the communities we serve.
Prizes were presented to the top three winners from the under nine, 12 and 15 categories.
This content is provided by UEM Sunrise.
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