KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s national volleyball programme remains outside the Asian rankings, a situation attributed to limited participation in sanctioned regional competitions and longstanding structural weaknesses in the sport’s development pathway.
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the country’s absence from the rankings stemmed from several interlinked issues, including insufficient exposure to high-level international matches, a shortage of competitive domestic tournaments, and a development system that trails behind regional counterparts.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that these gaps must be addressed if Malaysia is to become competitive on the Asian stage.
“Firstly, our players do not receive enough exposure to high-intensity competitions.
“Secondly, we need to organise more domestic tournaments, while many of our neighbouring countries already have more established development systems and professional leagues.
“We must also take physical attributes into consideration, as they are an important factor in succeeding at the highest level of volleyball.
“Most importantly, however, is exposure. That is why volleyball has been included in the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) championships, the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and the 2027 SEA Games,” he said during parliament question session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Zakri Hassan, who sought clarification on Malaysia’s current standing in Asian and global volleyball, as well as the long-term ambitions for the national team.
Dr Mohammed Taufiq said the Youth and Sports Ministry, together with the Malaysian Volleyball Association, has outlined several strategic initiatives to strengthen the sport’s development framework.
Among the key measures is closer coordination between the National Sports Council, the National Sports Institute, the Education Ministry and the Malaysian Volleyball Association to ensure a more integrated approach to talent identification and athlete development.
He added that the ministry also plans to increase the number of domestic competitions to give athletes more consistent match experience and improve long-term performance levels.
In addition, efforts are under way to raise coaching standards and enhance the quality of technical officials, including exposing them to modern training methods and strengthening partnerships with more established volleyball nations across Asia.
The sport’s inclusion in the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) championships, the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and the 2027 SEA Games is also expected to widen the talent pipeline and improve competitive exposure at all levels.
– July 6, 2026
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volleyball, Malaysia, Sports Ministry, SUKMA, SEA Games