Date for 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games to be finalised next week - Khairy

The date for the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and the 2017 ASEAN Para Games will be finalised next week, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy, who is also the 29th SEA Games Organising Committee chairman, said the matter would be announced by the SEA Games secretariat.

"We take note of the decision of the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF). We have to respect it and will rearrange the schedule," he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house at Gadong, near here, which was attended by 15,000 people.

On the proposal to host the 2017 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games concurrently, Khairy said the ministry accepted and respect the SEAGF's decision to hold the two games separately.

The biennial games will be Malaysia's sixth time as host of the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia after 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989 and 2001.

It involves 11 countries in the region, namely Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste and Malaysia.

Asked about the proposal of state governments to provide rewards in the form of educational assistance to athletes who win gold medals in the Malaysia Games (Sukma), Khairy said it was up to the discretion of each state.

"It is up to the respective state governments, I do not issue instructions or guidelines to the state governments and it is their money."

He said the National Sports Council would provide cash incentives for Sukma gold medal winners.

"Not all athletes will continue their education to tertiary as some have completed their studies. For me, giving cash incentive will be a better choice as we will give them the freedom to spend the money."