Selangor ready to host your next big championship, MB Amirudin tells the world

SHAH ALAM, Oct 31 — The Selangor government is ready to make its high-standard sports facilities available to other countries seeking to host regional or international championships, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said the initiative was in line with Selangor’s existing capabilities, given its wide range of upgraded sports facilities and reputation as a preferred destination for major international sporting events, including the SEA Games.

“Our challenge lies in how we can make the best use of these well-maintained facilities to enhance our athletes’ capabilities and prepare them for future competitions,” he said at the Sanjungan Budi event for the 22nd Malaysia Games (Sukma) and Para Sukma Selangor 2026 at Dewan Raja Muda Musa here last night.

Also present were Selangor Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Executive Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi and 22nd Sukma and Para Sukma Selangor 2026 Secretariat chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi.

On the recent hosting of the Sukma and Para Sukma Games, Amirudin said Selangor had the advantage of not needing to build new sports facilities, having instead channelled nearly RM100 million into upgrading existing venues in collaboration with local authorities and the private sector.

“We are also grateful to the private sector for its contributions towards upgrading and maintaining its own facilities, which helped ensure the smooth running of the Sukma and Para Sukma Games,” he said.

A replica model of the Shah Alam Sports Complex. The Selangor government is positioning itself as a destination for international sporting events. . — Bernama file pic

Amirudin said the upgrading of competition venues and active involvement of various stakeholders were key factors in the successful staging of the biennial Games, despite initial challenges, including a tight preparation schedule and concerns over haze.

He said lessons learned and experience gained from past challenges, including natural disasters and issues relating to economic stability, had enabled Selangor to adopt a more organised and systematic approach to ensuring the success of events.

At the event, the state government presented tokens of appreciation to local authorities, sponsors and private sector partners for their contributions to the successful staging of the Games. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: The abbreviation Sukma stands for Sukan Malaysia in Malay.