Kuala Lumpur:About 14,000 volunteers are needed to ensure the success of the 2027 SEA Games, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Johor, and Penang from September 18 to 29 next year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC) and ASEAN Para Games 2027 Secretariat CEO Datuk Abdul Rashid Yaakub stated that the Kuala Lumpur cluster alone will require between 5,000 and 8,000 volunteers. Penang is expected to need around 2,000 volunteers, while Sarawak may require between 5,000 and 6,000 volunteers.

Additionally, the organising committee will need 5,000 volunteers for the ASEAN Para Games, scheduled in Kuala Lumpur from October 17 to 23. These volunteers may need special skills to support athletes with disabilities.

Applications for volunteering at both events will open on December 5. The committee is targeting a diverse group of volunteers, including international students who can communicate in the languages of the participating countries.

So far, about 1,000 pre-registration applications have been received through government programmes like the MADANI Kita initiative. Volunteers will be provided with clothing, and may also receive accommodation, food, and transportation assistance during the Games.

Abdul Rashid expressed confidence in Malaysians' enthusiasm for participating in sports events, citing the excitement observed during the recent Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. He encouraged everyone to volunteer for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.