Sabah has pulled out of co-hosting SEA Games, says Hannah

PETALING JAYA: The Sabah government has pulled out of co-hosting the 2027 SEA Games, says youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.

“The Sabah government, which earlier agreed to co-host the games with an allocation of RM100.52 million, has decided to withdraw due to a lack of proper facilities,” she said in a written parliamentary reply.

With the total cost to hold the games estimated at RM700 million, Yeoh reiterated that the Sarawak and Penang governments have committed to allocate RM365 million and RM15 million, respectively, to co-host the games.

“The costs of holding the 2027 SEA Games will be jointly borne by the federal government, relevant state governments and corporate bodies,” she said.

She added that the ministry would hold further discussions with the private and corporate sectors to get them as sponsors.

Yeoh was replying to Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Batu Kawan), who is also the Penang chief minister, who asked about the allocations that have been set aside for the SEA Games.

The youth and sports minister previously said Sabah had offered to cover RM100 million to co-host the games.

However, Sabah finance minister Masidi Manjun later said the state government had yet to make any financial commitment involving the games given its inadequate sports facilities.

On Sept 5, the state Cabinet unanimously agreed to consider co-hosting the 2027 edition of the regional games.