Kuala lumpur: The Selangor government will implement cost-saving measures by reducing almost half of the original cost of hosting the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), scheduled to be held from Aug 15-24. State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi said the original allocation of RM100 million would be reduced to around RM40 million to RM50 million.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the move was taken in line with the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who gave his consent for the Games to proceed with cost-saving measures and prudent spending. Given the current situation, the aim is to reduce the expenses to the range of RM40 million to RM50 million, with ongoing efforts to finalize the figures for the reduction.
Mohd Najwan explained that many of the budget cuts involve ceremonial events, which are to be scaled down. He made these remarks at a press conference following the 2026 SUKMA Supreme Committee meeting at Menara KBS. Although the SUKMA 2026 opening ceremony at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and the closing ceremony will still be held, they will be on a smaller, more symbolic scale to ensure resources are not wasted.
Further cost reductions include scaling down the number of volunteers from the initial target of 30,000 to under 5,000, and the full utilization of existing sports facilities without constructing new infrastructure. Despite these budget cuts, Mohd Najwan assured that the technical aspects and quality of competition will remain unaffected, ensuring athletes can perform at their highest level according to the stipulated standards and regulations.
The state government is currently bearing the cost of organizing the Games, while discussions with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) are in progress regarding the sharing of facilities. Some infrastructure initially planned for rental may be replaced with facilities owned by the National Sports Council (NSC).
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, who chaired the meeting, expressed gratitude to the Sultan of Selangor for consenting to proceed with SUKMA 2026, emphasizing its importance for the development of athletes and national sports. Previously, Sultan Sharafuddin decreed a postponement of the Games due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia and pending the redevelopment of the Shah Alam Stadium. However, the Games were allowed to proceed in a prudent manner after discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.