KUCHING: The Federal Government’s decision to host the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Sarawak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur is seen as a smart move, creating a 'win-win' situation for these three areas.
This hosting concept breaks the long-standing tradition of holding the games solely in Peninsular Malaysia, as had been done in six previous editions in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001, and most recently in 2017, when Malaysia emerged as the overall champion.
For the record, the last time the SEA Games were co-hosted with other states was in 2001, whereby Johor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan joined forces.
During the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) XXI 2024 in Kuching on August 24, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed that Malaysia would host the 2027 SEA Games, with Sarawak, Sabah, and Penang ready to jointly commit to the event.
However, Sabah is reconsidering its proposal to co-host the games.
At the opening ceremony of the 21st Para SUKMA on September 22, Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh confirmed that only Sarawak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur will co-host the 2027 SEA Games.
The original idea came when the Prime Minister proposed the plan to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, to involve Sarawak as a co-host during an event in the nation’s capital.
Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari quickly agreed to Sarawak’s role as a co-host and announced a commitment of RM350 million to cover half of the hosting costs.
Early discussions determined that 36 sports will be featured in the 2027 SEA Games, with 18 of them held in Sarawak, including the opening ceremony.
The remaining sports will be split between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, with Kuala Lumpur also set to host the closing ceremony.
Sarawak’s selection as the venue for the opening ceremony is seen as a significant recognition by the central government, following the state’s successful hosting of the 21st SUKMA.
Holistic Sports Development
From Sarawak’s perspective, hosting the 2027 SEA Games presents the best opportunity to boost holistic sports development, which will bring positive economic impact to the state.
During the recent incentive presentation for the 21st SUKMA medal winners, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari emphasised that, for the sake of the nation’s athletes, particularly those from Sarawak, the state is willing to spend generously to co-host the SEA Games.
“The cost of hosting the SEA Games is quite high, but for the development of young people, especially the youth of Sarawak, I am willing to be a co-host.
“When this happens, the countries that come will certainly learn where Sarawak is, understand our status, and witness the talent of Sarawak’s youth because sports are one of the platforms for our development,” said the Sarawak Premier.
Sarawak has set a target to become a sporting powerhouse in Malaysia by 2030, and the SEA Games are seen as the perfect stepping stone to accelerate this transition, in addition to Sarawak’s involvement in SUKMA since 1986.
For years, the SEA Games has provided Sarawak with an important platform to nurture athletes who shine on the international stage.
It has been a proving ground for local athletes before they progress to higher levels.
It was on this stage that athletes like Datu Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Bryan Nickson Lomas, Daniel Bego, Welson Sim, and Watson Nyambek made their names before advancing to the Olympics.
We can’t forget Datu Pandelela’s achievement when she won her first SEA Games gold medal in 2007 in Thailand at just 14 years old.
At the same age, former national swimmer Daniel Bego also won his first gold medal during his debut at the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi.
The SEA Games have also been a platform for athletes like Jackie Wong, Grace Wong, and other Sarawakian sports stars to claim gold medals, proving they can compete with athletes from across ASEAN.
Thus, hosting the SEA Games in Sarawak is the right move, aligning with the state government’s vision to develop competitive, calibre athletes who can make the nation proud.
World-Class Sports Facilities
During the National Day celebrations in Sibu, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari explained that Sarawak will ensure all sports facilities are upgraded in preparation for hosting the SEA Games.
In addition to upgrades, Sarawak will also build a new velodrome in Petra Jaya to host cycling events.
Of course, this will come at a high cost, but that is the price Sarawak must pay before reaping the benefits in terms of athlete development and sports tourism.
The recently concluded SUKMA XXI saw Sarawak dominate several sports like diving, tenpin bowling, taekwondo, muaythai, and petanque, helping the state reclaim the championship after 30 years.
In addition to intensive development programmes, Sarawak’s success this time was due to the athletes' training using world-class facilities both locally and abroad.
The Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre has been the breeding ground for many Sarawakian divers who continue its namesake's legacy, including Bertrand Rhodict Lises, who made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024, Enrique Maccartney Harold, Elvis Priestley Clement, Kimberly Bong, and many more.
Meanwhile, the tenpin bowling centre at Megalane Sarawak, Batu Kawa, recognised as one of the best in Asia, produced world youth champion Nur Hazirah Ramli, who helped Malaysia win the International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Youth Championship for the first time in South Korea in July.
Even sports like cricket have come close to making history by winning gold at the 21st SUKMA after Sarawak built its own cricket field.
Perhaps Sarawak will soon break the dominance of Terengganu or other states in cycling at the next SUKMA, especially if our athletes train at our own velodrome.
It’s not impossible for Sarawak to produce another Diana Bong after the state built its own wushu centre, which was used during the recent SUKMA.
This is why Sarawak didn’t hesitate when offered the chance to co-host the SEA Games, seeing the long-term benefits, particularly in terms of athletic excellence.
Boosting Sports Tourism
Having world-class sports facilities will give Sarawak a significant advantage, especially in driving the sports tourism sector.
Every year, Sarawak hosts various international tournaments, including tenpin bowling, tennis, muaythai, badminton, boxing, Spartan races, and more.
This number is expected to rise if Sarawak builds or upgrades more sports facilities for the SEA Games.
Sarawak could also consider hosting other world-class sporting events after the SEA Games, as foreign countries will be confident in the state’s ability to organise such events.
This is crucial to ensure that these newly built sports facilities don’t become 'white elephants,' leading to financial losses for the state government and hindering athlete development.
According to current statistics, Sarawak recorded 1,615,912 visitor arrivals from January to April 2024, generating tourism receipts of around RM4.170 billion.
Of this total, 997,451 were international arrivals, including those participating in sports events, while 618,461 were domestic arrivals.
These numbers will continue to increase annually if the Sarawak Government organises more international sporting events.
Driving Economic Growth
Hosting the SEA Games will pave the way for Sarawak to accelerate the acquisition of MASwings to establish its own airline.
According to Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, Sarawak’s airline will be operational by 2027 to facilitate the travel of athletes from other countries in the region to the state.
He also mentioned that Sarawak needs to fast-track the completion of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system by 2027 to provide convenient transport for athletes travelling between venues.
“I believe that by 2027, Sarawak’s public transport system, especially the ART, will be fully operational, making movement around the city easier,” he said.
The SEA Games will also bring economic benefits to the hospitality, accommodation, and various related sectors.
As part of the early plans, the Sarawak government has approved the construction of three more international-standard hotels to be developed by private companies.
As the minister responsible for tourism, Dato Sri Abdul Karim said these hotels will help accommodate the influx of visitors to Sarawak, particularly during the SEA Games.
Putting Sarawak On The World Map
Sarawak has already proven its capability by successfully hosting the SUKMA XXI, with some comparing the opening ceremony to the Olympic Games in Paris.
The commitment and dedication shown in hosting SUKMA XXI serve as a solid testament to Sarawak’s readiness to co-host the SEA Games.
As Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari explained, hosting the SEA Games is not only a platform for national athletes to gain international exposure.
More importantly, it will put Sarawak on the sporting map of ASEAN, raising the state’s profile as a host for prestigious global sporting events.
Without a doubt, much preparation is needed, and Sarawak must start now to ensure the success of the inaugural hosting of this event, especially the opening ceremony, will be the most grand and impressive in the history of the SEA Games. -UKASnews
