KUALA LUMPUR – Former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Abdul Rashid Yaakub has been appointed chief executive officer of the Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (MASOC) and the Asean Para Games 2027 Secretariat.
His appointment takes effect today, with Abdul Rashid tasked to lead the secretariat coordinating all aspects of preparations for the region’s biggest multi-sport event.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh described Abdul Rashid as an experienced and respected sports administrator with a career spanning nearly four decades.
“Abdul Rashid has over 37 years of direct involvement in Malaysian sport and has held various key positions within the NSC,” she said in a statement.
“He also played an important role supporting MASOC in management when Malaysia last hosted the SEA Games in 2017.”
Malaysia will host the 34th SEA Games and the 15th Asean Para Games in 2027, with Sarawak, Penang and Johor also agreeing to stage several sports.
“The SEA Games and Asean Para Games 2027 will be a collective effort involving multiple states and agencies, and I am confident Abdul Rashid’s experience will be invaluable in ensuring smooth preparations,” Hannah added.
The Cabinet had approved the establishment of the SEA Games and Asean Para Games Organising Committee on March 26 this year.
When Malaysia last hosted the Games in 2017, when the national contingent topped the medal tally with 145 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze medals.
With the 2027 edition, Malaysia will play host to the prestigious regional event for the seventh time, after previous editions in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2017. – July 1, 2025