Kuala lumpur: The government will continue to strengthen national sports development with an allocation of over RM580 million under Budget 2026, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Finance Minister said the allocation included the enhancement of high-performance sports, including the Road to Gold programme and preparations for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games to be hosted by Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the budget also covers the empowerment of para athletes and deaf sports, maintenance and upgrading of youth and sports facilities nationwide, as well as improvement of school fields under the Ministry of Education. The Prime Minister acknowledged the recent achievements in sports, citing Malaysia's historic wins in the Badminton World Championships with the pairings of Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan, and the nation's success in the 2025 Deaf SEA Games with a total of 25 gold, 16 silver, and 11 bronze medals.

The Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation to Datuk Latif Romly, who once again broke his own record and won gold in the long jump event at the World Para Athletics Championships. He commended the national athletes for their efforts and achievements, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to Malaysia's reputation on the global stage.

To further encourage national sports development activities, Anwar said the government had agreed to allow organisations approved by the Inland Revenue Board to use part of their income to conduct sports-related activities. This initiative aims to foster a supportive environment for sports development and participation at various levels.