Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 2, 2024: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) wants the Malaysian Government to press ahead with the 34th South East Asian (SEA) Games in 2027.
In a show of solidarity, the OCM affiliates unanimously came up with a resolution in the OCM Executive Council meeting on April 29, urging the Ministry of Youth and Sports to commit to hosting the biennial SEA Games scheduled in 2027.
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of OCM, said: “There were concerns about the hosting of the 2027 SEA Games following the Cabinet’s decision to turn down an offer from the Commonwealth Games Federation for Malaysia to step in as a replacement host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“In view of the precedence set, there is a concern within the sports fraternity that the 2027 SEA Games could face a similar fate.
“Today’s show of solidarity - where all affiliates of OCM unanimously came up with a resolution urging the Federal Government to proceed with the SEA Games - is to illustrate our desire to make sure the preparation remains on track and are not derailed by unforeseen circumstances.
“The OCM does not wish to have the standard of sports in the country remaining stagnant. The SEA Games is crucial for our younger generation of athletes to look forward to in their quest for international recognition.
“With the entire sports fraternity represented in the OCM Executive Council meeting unanimously supportive of the biennial SEA Games be held in Kuala Lumpur, we will submit our request in writing via an official letter to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”
In 2022, the SEA Games Federation granted the right to host the 2027 SEA Games to Malaysia following the withdrawal of Brunei. Thailand (2025) and Singapore (2029) are also in the sequence.
The State Government of Sarawak has expressed its desire to host the SEA Games in 2027 on behalf of Malaysia.