KUALA LUMPUR – The government should allocate between RM3 billion and RM4 billion for the sports sector under Budget 2027 to ensure Malaysia is adequately prepared to host the 2027 SEA Games and support its athletes’ preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA 2028), said senior sports analyst Sadek Mustaffa.
Sadek said the sizable allocation was necessary given Malaysia’s responsibility as host of the SEA Games next year, with the event to be staged across four clusters, while national athletes would also require sustained financial support as they enter a crucial phase of their Olympic qualification campaigns.
Speaking to Scoop, the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) sports science lecturer said the government could no longer treat sports funding as an afterthought, particularly when the country was preparing to host a major regional multi-sport event while simultaneously building towards LA 2028.
“Whether the government likes it or not, it needs to provide a larger allocation. Perhaps RM3 billion or RM4 billion to make this happen, especially in terms of hosting the SEA Games because, as hosts, we need to spend money.
“We also do not have a sports village, so working with hotels to accommodate athletes will require funding,” he said.
The 2027 SEA Games will be held from Sept 18 to 29, with Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang and Johor serving as the four host clusters.
Sadek said the allocation should also cover the national athletes’ preparations for LA 2028, with the next 18 months representing a critical period for those seeking to qualify for the Games.
He said several core sports required greater attention following Malaysia’s underwhelming performances at recent major international competitions.
“There are core sports that have failed because they were not focused on and did not receive sufficient attention.
“When we look at athletics and badminton, particularly in these two competitions, it is clear that we have not been performing well,” he said.
Sadek said funding should enable athletes to compete more consistently in high-level competitions, including overseas events that could provide valuable exposure as well as opportunities to improve rankings and secure Olympic qualification.
He said Malaysia could not expect athletes to deliver medals at major Games without providing them with the financial resources needed to prepare and compete at the highest level.
“Whenever there are successes such as at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, government leaders are eager to celebrate those achievements and congratulate the athletes.
“But realistically, we need to provide sufficient funding for sports,” he said.
Sadek also stressed that investment in sports should not be measured solely by the number of medals won at international competitions, arguing that a stronger sporting ecosystem could deliver wider benefits to Malaysian society.
“Sport is a very effective tool to balance and harmonise Malaysians.
“We are talking about obesity and behavioural problems among young people. Sport is one of the best tools to address these issues,” he said.
With Malaysia set to host the SEA Games next year, Sadek said the country must also recognise that its regional rivals were becoming increasingly competitive, making early and properly funded preparations essential.
He said Malaysia’s ambition of finishing as overall champions on home soil could only become realistic if the country backed its athletes with a clear plan, adequate funding and sufficient preparation time.
Budget 2027 will be tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat this Friday. – October 7, 2026