KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Chief de Mission (CDM) to the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, Nurul Huda Abdullah, has voiced concern over the fate of 18 national athletes who are also candidates for this year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
The SPM, scheduled from Nov 3 to Dec 23, overlaps with the SEA Games in Bangkok from Dec 9 to 20, putting the student-athletes in a difficult position.
Nurul Huda said she has yet to receive a response from the Ministry of Education on whether flexibility or special arrangements could be made to allow the affected athletes to compete without jeopardising their studies.
“This situation has put both the athletes and their families in a real dilemma to represent the country or to sit for one of the most important exams of their lives,” she said.
She added that the National Sports Council (NSC) is exploring possible solutions while awaiting an official decision from the ministry.
“There have been concerns raised to me about athletes who are supposed to sit for their SPM examinations, which clash with the SEA Games schedule. So far, there has been no definite response,” she was quoted saying by Bernama today after the Team Managers’ Meeting for the Thailand SEA Games at Wisma OCM.
Meanwhile, Nurul Huda revealed that team managers at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games will bear greater responsibilities due to the absence of an official Games Village. Instead, organisers will accommodate athletes and officials in hotels according to their respective sports.
Acknowledging this challenge, she said her team has directed all managers to remain vigilant and well-prepared for any situation that may arise, in order to safeguard the welfare of the athletes throughout the competition.
“Our contingent will be spread around so many hotels and that will be a big challenge for us and this is where we will also rely on team managers as well.
“Their responsibility is very huge and this is what I stressed today in our team managers’ meeting. They will be responsible and also accountable for their team’s welfare,” he said.
At the same time, Nurul Huda said that the shortlisted list of athletes to carry the Jalur Gemilang at the Sea Games will be submitted to the Youth and Sports Ministry to decide. – October 14, 2025