SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is set to draft a special budget to address any potential shortfalls in funding for athlete development and sports infrastructure as part of its preparations to host the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA). Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced this initiative following a reduction in the sports development allocation to RM6 million in the Selangor Budget 2025, down from RM8 million in previous years.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the special budget aims to determine the exact funding required, considering the ceiling set under the 12th Malaysia Plan and the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), which allocated RM35 million to the Selangor State Sports Council over five years until 2025. Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari highlighted that RM29 million has already been spent this year on development efforts, including preparing athletes for SUKMA 2024, providing incentives to medal winners, and supporting para-athletes.

On November 15, Amirudin announced the RM6 million allocation for
the Sports Development Programme in the state budget to ensure thorough preparation for Selangor’s contingent in the 22nd edition of SUKMA. He also estimated the total cost of hosting SUKMA 2026 at over RM150 million, though he noted that this figure could change after a detailed review.

Amirudin expressed confidence that almost 90 percent of the events could be held within Selangor, leveraging the state’s existing sports infrastructure. However, he acknowledged that some events might require facilities in neighboring states. For instance, the velodrome in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, might be used for track cycling due to its proximity. Additionally, with the Shah Alam Stadium still under construction, the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur is being considered as a potential venue for the SUKMA 2026 opening ceremony.

In July, the SUKMA Supreme Committee, chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, confirmed Selangor as the host for SUKMA 2026 after the state volunteered to organize the biennial event.