SHAH ALAM, Jan 8 — Selangor’s upcoming, fully equipped e-sports hub is set to polish local e-sports athletes’ talent in a more systematic and professional manner, said Selangor Red Giants Esports cofounder Simon Lim.
He said the hub must be equipped with facilities that meet current e-sports needs, with a focus on popular game categories in Malaysia and events contested in official events such as the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
According to Lim, Selangor can start by providing facilities for Sukma events, including eFootball, e-Sim Racing, Street Fighter, eChess, Mobile Legends, and Honor of Kings, as well as an e-Sim Racing simulator, mobile games training rooms, and competition stage.
“There are three divisions in e-sports, which are mobile gaming, console gaming, and PC gaming, and the most popular one in Malaysia and Southeast Asia is mobile gaming.
“We would need several training rooms (for mobile gaming), which could for instance fit five players in a team so they can formulate strategies and (hold) sparring sessions, as well as e-Sim Racing equipment or simulators with seats like real cars, steering wheels, gearshifts and tyres.
“(The hub) should also come with a mid-scale competition stage with spectator seats like a mini auditorium, to allow championships or district-, state-, school- or university-level competitions to be held,” he told Media Selangor.
On the state government’s plan to rebuild Carlton Hotel in Section 13 as an e-sports hub, Lim welcomed the idea, but suggested similar facilities be included at the Shah Alam Sports Complex (KSSA).
“In my opinion, it would be better to give us some space at the new stadium (KSSA), because it isn’t only for football and would be sports-themed for the people of Selangor, which would become a sports state.
“I think it is more efficient for the e-sports hub to be there. There, we can grow the talent, because everyone gathers to participate in sports,” Lim said.
E-sports hub to be completed in 2029
Jay Jay Denis, press secretary for Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, said Carlton Hotel is set to be demolished and rebuilt as an esports stadium, with its completion due in time for the Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) 2029 that will be held in Selangor.
He said the state is finalising the land ownership transfer for the site, and that the building was never intended to be a venue for Sukma 2026 in Selangor.
“We are now finalising the … handover of land from the previous company that was operating it, but (which) has not operated up to the level we hoped for.
“The hotel will be demolished because it is difficult to work with the current space, and rebuilt from the ground up for it to function as an e-sports stadium,” he said during Media Selangor’s Lunch On Us! programme, which aired on Monday.
In November 2024, Amirudin announced that Selangor will transform the hotel into an e-sports hub with a RM1 million investment, with the aim to host international and regional tournaments.
