KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s pursuit of its first-ever Olympic gold medal has received a significant boost with the government allocating RM12 million for the Road to Gold programme, aimed at preparing national elite athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Taufiq Johari told the Dewan Rakyat today that the initiative targets athletes currently ranked among the best in the world, offering comprehensive support across training, competitions, sports science, sports medicine, and welfare.
“To ensure early preparation is carried out systematically, the RM12 million allocation for 2026 will support the phased development of our top athletes,” he said, responding to queries from Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH–Tebrau) on the government’s plans to sustain and improve performance at major events.
Taufiq added that preparations for the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are already underway, with the National Sports Council engaging all national sports associations to coordinate high-performance training programmes.
Athlete preparation for SEA 2027 will be carried out in three phases: Phase 1, from January to December 2026, focuses on selection and identification of potential athletes, with training support tailored to performance needs; Phase 2, from January to May 2027, will enhance performance through high-intensity training and competitive exposure; and Phase 3, from June to September 2027, will provide full-time intensive training to ensure readiness for the Games.
The 2027 SEA Games, scheduled from September 18 to 29, will be hosted across Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, and Johor, with 38 sports initially announced. Appeals for unlisted sports will be accepted from December 8, 2025, to March 2026, with final decisions made by the SEA Games 2027 Organising Committee.
The ministry is optimistic that the national contingent can finish among the top three, improving on the 2025 edition.
Taufiq also emphasised the importance of athletes’ mental well-being, highlighting programmes to strengthen mental resilience, motivation, and patriotism through strategic collaboration with the Armed Forces, complementing Malaysia’s high-performance sports agenda. – January 22, 2026