Malaysia ready to bid for 2017 SEA Games host job

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will submit a memorandum to the Cabinet on Malaysia's proposal to host the 2017 SEA Games, said its Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said he had already directed his officers in the ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC) to prepare a draft that includes the cost of organising the games.

"We have to make a decision (whether we want to host of not) before the Myanmar SEA Games in December. I have given one or two months to prepare the draft.

"We will prepare a detailed cost estimation. I do not want to make any assumption yet because we have to look at various implications, including diplomatic relationships with other Asean countries," he said at a sponsorship pledge ceremony for the 16th SUKMA, here, today.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi in news report today, believed hosting the SEA Games in 2017 would be no more complicated than staging the SUKMA annually.

Kok Chi said there was no reason for Malaysia to turn down the host job after Singapore host the 2015 edition as the number of contingents and the athletes involved is considerably lower than that of the SUKMA.

Former Youth and Sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had been concerned over the huge amount of money required to host the SEA Games.

Brunei, which is slated to host the Games in 2019, could take over in 2017 if Malaysia turns down the host job.

Malaysia last hosted the SEA Games in 2001.

Khairy said organising the SUKMA this year would cost RM9 million while sponsorship received was only for RM1 million, namely from Resort World Genting, Nestle Sdn Bhd, Proton, 100Plus and Pemodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB).

Meanwhile, Khairy said he was ready to meet the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to discuss the future of Malaysian football.

Khairy said he welcomed the initiative taken by FAM vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin but reiterated that he only wished to meet leaders who decision makers in the governing body for football in the country.

"We want to discuss the future of football, face to face, with leaders in the FAM and not through the media. So when a meeting is held, it must involve the decision makers," he said.