KUALA LUMPUR – Kelantan’s Muay Thai fraternity is hoping Budget 2027 will provide the funding needed to build a dedicated stadium, saying the facility would give the state the infrastructure to develop fighters from grassroots level to the international stage.
Speaking to Scoop, Kelantan Muay Thai head coach Mohamad Ridhwan Mat Zain said the proposed facility would provide a structured development pathway for fighters across novice, amateur, semi-professional, professional and international levels.
He said a permanent venue would also allow competitions to be held more regularly, giving fighters opportunities to test themselves against opponents of different levels and measure their progress.
“Muay Thai is not just about training. It is also about gauging our capability and knowing what level we are at.
“With a dedicated stadium, it becomes easier to organise events regularly, and these competitions can serve as a benchmark for our fighters to assess their development and see where they stand,” he said.
Ridhwan said the lack of a permanent venue currently makes it difficult to organise regular tournaments, with organisers often having to use open spaces where the ring and other equipment must be installed before being dismantled after each event.
He said a dedicated stadium would ease those logistical challenges while allowing Kelantan to host more tournaments, training programmes and other activities throughout the year.
However, he stressed that the proposed facility should be more than just a competition venue, with supporting amenities such as a physiotherapy centre, fully equipped training areas and dedicated spaces for athletes to prepare for competitions.
“Overseas, their facilities are fully equipped. They have proper training areas, physiotherapy units, competition preparation zones, spectator seating and quality rings.
“Because everything is available in one place, they can organise events more frequently and athletes can train, recover and prepare for competitions in a proper environment.
“We need facilities like this because athletes require more than just a ring. They need a complete training environment that can support their development and performance,” he said.
Ridhwan said the proposed stadium could also encourage more young people to take up Muay Thai by providing them with a permanent and structured environment to train.
He said regular training programmes could give youths a positive avenue to develop discipline and sporting skills while helping keep them away from social ills.
“When there is a stadium and training centre, youths have a clear place to go, a sport to pursue and structured training sessions that can guide them.
“It is not just about producing fighters. We are also giving young people an environment where they can develop themselves through sport, and this can ultimately help curb social ills,” he said.
Beyond developing local talent, Ridhwan believes the proposed stadium could help position Kelantan as a sports tourism destination by attracting promoters, fighters and fans from Malaysia and abroad.
He said the state could host tournaments, training camps and other Muay Thai-related activities, creating spillover benefits for hotels, restaurants, food and beverage businesses and employment opportunities.
“If we can organise tournaments and training camps regularly, people will come to Kelantan not only to compete but also to support their fighters.
“This can benefit hotels, restaurants, food and beverage businesses and other sectors because visitors will need accommodation, food and transport. It can also create employment opportunities for the local community,” he said.
Ridhwan said sports tourists could also be encouraged to extend their stay by exploring other attractions and tourism products in Kelantan.
“Tourists who come for sports-related events may decide to stay longer if they find other tourism products in Kelantan that interest them.
“So the stadium would not only benefit Muay Thai. It could also contribute to the wider tourism industry and local economy,” he said.
Ridhwan said a dedicated stadium would ultimately provide athletes with a more comfortable and professional environment to improve their performance, particularly when preparing for major tournaments.
He hoped the government would consider allocating funds for the project under Budget 2027, saying better infrastructure was needed to give Kelantan’s Muay Thai athletes the conditions required to train and compete effectively.
“For athletes, comprehensive training facilities are vital so that every session can be conducted effectively and tournament preparations can be carried out seamlessly.
“We hope the government will realise this dream and provide the necessary allocation to build the stadium. It would give our athletes better conditions to train, improve their performance and prepare for competitions in a much more professional environment,” he said.
Kelantan has a strong Muay Thai tradition, winning five gold and two bronze medals when the sport made its Malaysia Games (Sukma) debut in 2013.
The state has also produced several notable fighters, including Faizal Ramli, Mat Ropi, Ban Mero, Tengku Sharizal and Emy Semerah Padi.
More recently, Kelantan-born Ahmad Nor Aliff Rakib captured the interim ONE Championship Muay Thai strawweight world title in July, further highlighting the state’s potential to produce fighters capable of competing at the highest level. – October 6, 2026