KOTA BHARU, April 29 — Kelantan is ready to accept any decision and possibility regarding the hosting of the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, including dropping certain events and adjusting their medal target.
State youth, sports, non-governmental organisation, and community unity chairman Zamakshari Muhamad said the final decision on whether or not the Games will be held will be known tomorrow after the SUKMA Supreme Committee meeting.
“As such, we accept that there are events that have to be dropped, and if so, we may need to adjust our medal target accordingly.
“So far, almost 900 state athletes have been identified for the SUKMA challenge, involving participation in about 34 sports,” he said after attending the state executive councillors’ meeting at Kota Darulnaim Complex today.
Zamakshari added that Kelantan had initially targeted 17 gold medals, with combat sports such as taekwondo, Muay Thai, and silat identified as the main contributors.
Previously, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj decreed that SUKMA 2026, which runs from August 15 to August 24, should be postponed following the ongoing crisis in West Asia and until the redevelopment of the Shah Alam Stadium is fully completed.
Similarly, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said that the biennial Games would be held on a smaller scale to reduce organising costs without reducing the number of events contested.
The decision was made after the SUKMA Supreme Committee took into account the global supply crisis and its economic impact, which is also being felt in the country.
