KUALA LUMPUR – The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has urged the Sarawak state government to convene a meeting to brief the council on ways to expedite the preparation plans for the 2027 SEA Games.
Speaking to Scoop, OCM President Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said that a collective meeting involving the state government and the Youth and Sports Ministry is necessary to establish an organised structure detailing responsibilities in the lead-up to the multisport event.
Norza added that the structured plan should be finalised by next year to facilitate its presentation to the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF).
“Sarawak is our biggest stakeholder for the SEA Games, and a collective meeting is definitely required to coordinate the preparation plans. It is crucial to determine in advance who will be responsible for each aspect, allowing us to delegate duties effectively.
“We need to develop a general framework to guide us moving forward and avoid any missteps. Beginning our preparations earlier will undoubtedly place us in a better position as hosts.
“Simultaneously, we must keep SEAGF updated on our progress, as they need to be aware of what we are working on. Currently, their focus is on next year’s Bangkok SEA Games, but we need to ensure our plans are ready for presentation by next year.
“We intend to take this process step by step, and I hope we can discuss and finalize the preparation plans collectively during a meeting, enabling us to host the games professionally. Early preparation is always the best approach,” said Norza when contacted.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced in August that the 2027 Games will be hosted here using a decentralised model—together with Sarawak and Penang—to reduce the financial burden on the federal government.
It was reported that Sarawak has pledged roughly RM350 million for the games, while Penang is allocating RM15 million. The games are expected to cost roughly RM700 million to host. – November 21, 2024