SHAH ALAM, Nov 27 — The Selangor government will draft a special budget to address funding shortfalls for athlete development and sports infrastructure as part of its preparations to host the 2026 Malaysian Games (Sukma).
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said this was decided after sports development allocation was lowered to RM6 million in the 2025 Selangor State Budget, down from RM8 million in previous years.
“We are drafting a special budget to determine the exact funding required, considering the ceiling set under the 12th Malaysia Plan and the First Selangor Plan, which allocated RM35 million to the Selangor State Sports Council over five years until 2025.
“This year alone, we have spent RM29 million on development efforts, including preparing athletes for Sukma 2024, providing incentives to medal winners, and supporting para-athletes,” he said when winding up the debate on the state budget during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
On November 15, Amirudin announced the RM6 million allocation for the Sports Development Programme in the state budget to ensure thorough preparation for the Selangor contingent in the 22nd Sukma.
Amirudin also estimated the total cost of hosting Sukma 2026 at over RM150 million, though he noted that this figure could change after a detailed review.
He expressed confidence that almost 90 per cent of the events can be held in Selangor, leveraging the state’s existing sports infrastructure. However, some events may require facilities in neighbouring states.
“For certain events, we are open to using facilities outside Selangor, such as the velodrome in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, for track cycling, given its proximity.
“With the Shah Alam Stadium still under construction, we are also considering the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur as a potential venue for the Sukma 2026 opening ceremony,” he added.
In July, the Sukma Supreme Committee, chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, confirmed Selangor will host Sukma 2026 after the state volunteered to organise the biennial event.
— Bernama
