By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, Nov 29 — The Selangor government is exploring greater involvement in drone sports, state executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said, citing the potential of the industry.
He said while the state currently places greater focus on drone development, and offers a special technical and vocational education and training (TVET) course for those interested, drone sports is also worth a degree of focus.
“In Selangor, youth interested in TVET courses have the option to also learn comprehensively about drones. The course provides accreditation for participants to even be drone specialists.
“But we are looking at all opportunities. Today, I see the huge potential of drones in sports. This is something that can be explored further,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the National Drone Sports Strategic Roadmap (Nadsar) in Cyberjaya today.
“Earlier, I witnessed drone racing and drone soccer. Perhaps we will see the promotion of even more drone sports in the future. This is something new, but it is not wrong for us to explore.”
Najwan said the biggest challenge in expanding participation in drone sports today is the high cost, which limits accessibility only to those from well-off families.
[caption id="attachment_381556" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
State executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi speaks to the media after the ‘Entrepreneurs with Potential’ awards ceremony at the MBPJ Civic Hall, Petaling Jaya, on November 28, 2024. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Asked if it will be something Selangor is considering including in the Malaysian Games, which it will host in 2026, he said the state is more focused on high-performance sports that could see its athletes compete on bigger stages like the Olympics.
“However, we have seen a drone racing team carrying the Malaysia name at the international level, although they did not receive any formal support from the government.
“Perhaps, in the future, the federal government, Youth and Sports Ministry and states can discuss how best they can assist. Yes, it (drone sports) is still in the early stages, but there is room for us to explore.”
Nadsar, an initiative by Futurise Sdn Bhd via the National Academy for Drone Sports Excellence, was unveiled today in conjunction with the Drone Hub Innovation for Future Talents event, which highlights Malaysia’s dedication to advancing drone innovation and talent development.
Futurise is a subsidiary of Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the developer of tech hub Cyberjaya.
In a statement, Futurise said Nadsar serves as a blueprint for Malaysia’s growth in drone sports, focusing on talent cultivation, industry partnerships, and regulatory enhancements.
Today’s event also saw the announcement of the Cyberjaya Drone Hub — a Cyberview initiative to establish the city as a thriving drone ecosystem.
Another initiative that was launched today was the Cyberjaya Drone Hero (CDH) programme, which provides hands-on training, competitive opportunities, and exposure to advanced technologies to students and drone enthusiasts.
To date, the CDH programme has trained over 200 students from 14 learning institutions across the country.
