He said with a general election coming up next month, it was up to the new government to decide whether to bid for it or not.

“But the good thing is that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are now trying to get away from a straight bid process as it is an expensive affair. They prefer negotiations and, at the same time, take into consideration the credentials of potential hosts,” he said at a media conference on the Malaysian contingent’s achievements.

Tunku Imran noted that the local sports fraternity had the appetite to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Durban withdrew from hosting the 2022 edition following its failure to meet the financial deadlines. At the end of the day, it is not whether we are capable of doing it. It is whether we have the will of hosting it again,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998.