The state’s tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak is currently in talks with the federal government and the youth and sports ministry on the matter.

He said Sarawak has agreed in principle to co-host the regional sports event.

“The decision as to whether Sabah will also join as a co-host or not will be made during further discussions,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Matta Fair at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur.

On Thursday, Sabah youth and sports minister Ellron Alfred Angin was quoted as saying that the state government has agreed to consider being a co-host of the 2027 SEA Games.

He said the state cabinet unanimously agreed on the matter during a meeting chaired by chief minister Hajiji Noor on Wednesday. The decision was made after considering various aspects involved in co-hosting the event.

Previously, Sabah finance minister Masidi Manjun said the state government had yet to make any financial commitment towards co-hosting the 2027 SEA Games.

Masidi said Sabah was not ready to co-host the games given its inadequate sports facilities.

Last week, the youth and sports ministry announced that Malaysia had accepted the offer to host the 2027 SEA Games, with Sarawak, Penang and Sabah agreeing to be co-hosts together with Kuala Lumpur.

Its minister Hannah Yeoh said that based on the 2017 SEA Games, the total estimated cost would be RM700 million.

She was also reported to have said that Sarawak had agreed to cover 50% of the cost, while Sabah offered RM100 million and Penang RM15 million.

The 2027 SEA Games will be the seventh time Malaysia hosts the games, after 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2017.