Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) has been encouraged to work together with 91 countries that have silat associations to promote the martial art so that it can be contested at the Olympic Games in the future. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said such collaboration is crucial to strengthening silat's position at the international level, thus ensuring its continued growth and recognition as a global sport.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence in the leadership of Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, who is also the President of the International Silat Federation, to drive the initiative of bringing silat to the Olympic Games. He emphasized the importance of more countries forming their own silat associations, which would enable the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider including silat as an Olympic competition event.
Ahmad Zahid made these remarks to reporters after officiating the Malaysian National Silat Gathering 2025, which was also attended by Pesaka president Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin. He noted that for silat to be included in the Olympics, it must first receive endorsement from the IOC, and he hopes that at least three-quarters of countries worldwide will adopt the sport.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that there are currently 414 registered silat associations or schools across Malaysia, indicating growing interest in the martial art among the nation's populace. Meanwhile, Megat Zulkarnain mentioned that the federation had previously engaged with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on the matter, and silat was showcased as a demonstration sport at the recent Paris Olympic Games.
Megat Zulkarnain expressed optimism, stating that the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to seeing silat reach the Olympic level. He added that the positive response from world Olympic leaders opens a pathway for silat to be officially listed in future editions of the Games, potentially at the 2028 Olympics or the 2032 Olympics. The martial art now boasts representation across the five major continents, with federations established in regions such as Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central America.