He said this was after the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) contacted OCM regarding the possibility of hosting the Games following the withdrawal of Brunei, which was supposed to host the 2027 edition.

“The meeting agreed to submit an expression of interest to SEAGC while the OCM would forward this information to the government and further discussions will be held in due time,” he told a media conference after chairing the third OCM executive board meeting for the 2021/2025 session today.

“In the spirit of friendship with SEAGF, most likely we have a good chance of securing that (hosting rights).”

However, he said that OCM would look into the country’s financial capability, apart from the Covid-19 pandemic issue, before deciding to host the SEA Games.

Asked if it would be a platform for Malaysia to prepare to host the 2038 Asian Games, he felt that two factors – facilities and the active level of sports or athletes – must be taken into account before the country could express an interest in hosting the Asiad.

Malaysia had organised the SEA Games six times, in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2017 but has never hosted the Asiad.

Bangkok will host the 33rd edition of the SEA Games in 2025.

Norza also said that the meeting today agreed to appoint OCM assistant treasurer Nasir Ali as the chef-de-mission for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia next year and Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia president Gerard Monteiro as deputy CDM for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK this July.

Meanwhile, Norza announced that two national alpine skiing athletes – Jeffrey Webb and Aruwin Sallehudin – have qualified for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games (Feb 4-20).

The ceremony to hand over the Jalur Gemilang would be held on Jan 19.