KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Thailand, the host of the 2025 SEA Games, has assured that security will be tightened to ensure the smooth running of the Muay Thai event in Songkhla, located in its south, despite ongoing political tensions with Cambodia.
Malaysian Muaythai Association president Datuk Muhammad Shahnaz Azmi said this was conveyed to the association in a recent meeting with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) after Cambodia said that it would send a full team to the biennial games this December.
The LOC also reminded all delegations to refrain from any form of political gestures throughout the tournament, including chants or symbols that could provoke tension between participating countries.
"We have a clear stance...politics should not be brought into sports. Political issues between countries and sporting events are entirely separate. As far as we have been informed, Cambodia will be sending a full team, and Thailand has no objections to the participation of Cambodian fighters.
“The LOC has reminded both sides; no political chanting from Thailand, no political chanting from Cambodia. Sport is sport. Both team managers and coaches agree, and there has been no issue so far.
“Our only concern is that if political conflicts arise, they may interfere with the spirit of sportsmanship, but thankfully, that has not happened yet,” he told the press.
Shahnaz added that a technical visit to the competition venue was held last week in Songkhla, which will be the official location of the Muay Thai event.
“We visited the venue, walked through the security measures and designated safety zones, ensuring that crowd management was in place…all these were discussed,” he said.
In terms of technicality, Shahnaz said that Muay Thai is considered one of the most ‘straightforward’ combat sports in terms of scoring and controversy compared to other disciplines.
“In terms of controversy, I think Muay Thai is very, very straightforward. In terms of points and so on, it is very clear. It is subjective, but not very subjective.
"So in that sense, we are okay, compared to other combat sports,” he said.
— Bernama
