Penang: Penang has decided to defer to the Selangor state government regarding Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's decree on postponing the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow emphasized Penang's commitment to respecting and adhering to whatever decision Selangor makes. He stated, "We will follow developments (regarding any decision on the organisation of SUKMA) as our athletes have already entered the final phase of preparation, considering the Games are scheduled for August, and we are now approaching May." Chow further noted that as the host, Selangor, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, holds the authority to decide on the matter. He added that if Selangor chose not to organize the event, other states would not be required to attend.

The Chief Minister provided these comments after launching the BE Associate programme by the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB). Sultan Sharafuddin had previously decreed that the SUKMA event in Selangor should be postponed until the crisis in West Asia subsides and the redevelopment of Shah Alam Stadium is completed.

In another development, Chow mentioned that the Penang state government has not yet made a decision on implementing the work-from-home (WFH) policy for state civil servants. This topic is set to be discussed in the upcoming State Executive Council (MMK) meeting. The decision will consider current needs and input from relevant parties to ensure smooth state administration operations. The Federal Government had already implemented the WFH policy for approximately 200,000 federal civil servants from April 15, with exemptions for essential sectors like health, education, and security.