OCM to submit 2017 SEA Games proposal next month

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) would submit a proposal to the Youth and Sports Ministry by December, on how to organise the SEA Games 2017, said honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

He said the OCM had distributed questionnaires to the various national sports associations to collect detailed information on organising the region's largest sporting event.

"Firstly, we want to know how many types of sports would be involved, so we need the feedback from the associations on a suitable number.

"Another important matter is whether sports associations could provide the venues and officers, as well as their medal targets," he told Bernama after attending an OCM meeting at its office here today.

According to earlier Bernama reports, OCM proposed organising the SEA Games, in accordance to the rotation system set by the SEA Games Federation.

However, that was initially opposed by the ministry for fear of incurring huge expenditure.

Following that, the ministry asked OCM to send a proposal on organising the games and Sieh had earlier, told the media that he would present the proposal next year.

"We want to expedite the process. As such, I have given deadlines to the associations to return the questionnaires by Dec 10. I'm sure, by the end of the year, we can give the proposal to the ministry," he said.

Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Zafarul Akbar Kassim, who was met at the same event, said the federation fully supported OCM's effort to organise the SEA Games.

"As host, we could promote sports with potential to deliver medals for the country.

"As far as I can remember, we have never suffered losses when organising SEA Games," he said.

The last time Malaysia organised the SEA Games was in 2001.

Meanwhile, among the agenda discussed at the meeting was a proposal to amend the Sports Development Act 1997; OCM strategic plan for 2011 to 2016; and, hosting the 127th International Olympic Committee meeting in the federal capital in 2015.

Also present were OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar and national sports association representatives.