KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) are hoping that the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will immediately seek the Cabinet's approval regarding Sarawak's offer to co-host the 2027 SEA Games.
OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said this would ensure early preparations could be carried out.
"After the government rejected the hosting of the Commonwealth Games, I, as the OCM president, was the first individual to pay a courtesy call to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to discuss the matter (2027 SEA Games).
"We have Sarawak's commitment and they are willing to share half of the cost of hosting the Games, estimated at between RM700 million and RM750 million and perhaps the conditions may have been clarified by the Premier (Abang Johari) himself and I think it's a good sign. I am confident KBS will immediately bring this matter to the Cabinet for approval,” he said after the closing ceremony of the International Olympic Day celebration here today.
In Kuching earlier today, Sarawak said it was ready to cost the 2027 SEA Games and proposed that the opening ceremony be held in the Land of the Hornbills.
Abang Johari had also said that Sarawak is prepared to share the hosting costs of the 2027 SEA Games with the Federal government.
It was previously reported that the KBS was studying the impact of hosting the 2027 SEA Games and would present its findings to the Cabinet next month, after SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) Council members unanimously agreed in May 2022 to award the hosting rights to Malaysia.
Malaysia has hosted the biennial Games six times: in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2017, all of which took place in the Klang Valley.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Norza said OCM have not decided who will be the flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympics.
Earlier today, the Paris-bound contingent's official attire was introduced at the closing ceremony of the International Olympic Day celebration here.
-- BERNAMA
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