Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said he had been toying with the idea and had raised it with youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh, reported The Borneo Post.

“God willing, I will now bring up this idea to our friends (Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia),” he said at a 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) reception dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre in Kuching last night.

The biennial games were last held in Brunei in 2009.

Abang Johari said with Sarawak prepared to co-host the SEA Games, the state government will later discuss with Brunei and Indonesia the possibility of organising the Borneo Games.

“We in Sarawak will try to be the (main) sponsor of the Borneo Games,” he said, adding that the games would be an excellent platform to prepare the state’s athletes for international competition.

Among those present last night were the crown prince of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Idris Shah, Sarawak assembly speaker Asfia Awang Nassar, state youth, sports and entrepreneur development minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and his deputy, Gerald Rentap Jabu.