Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has promised that Malaysia's contingent to the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games will give their all to wrest the overall champion title from Thailand.

As the host country, Malaysia will fiercely compete to depose Thailand and become the overall champion of 29th edition SEA Games, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from August 19 to 31.

"Thailand will be a great competitor to us andhas always beone of the best, if not the best (in SEA Games). We welcome the competition and I think it will close between Malaysia and Thailand for the overall champion title this year," he told the media after attending the closing ceremony of "Rising Together Baton Run" atHuamark Indoor Stadium.

Despite striving to become overall champion, he reminded the athletes that the SEA Games is a friendly competition, held between family members within the South East Asian countries.

Khairy said the SEA Gamesisalso an avenue to showcase young talents and rising together as one region.

"The competition will be fierce but friendly and will be a treat for everyone to watch," he said, adding that this is the first SEA Games after the establishment ofASEAN Community.

Besides the SEA Games, Malaysia will also play host to the 9th ASEAN Para Games from Sept 17 to 23.

On Malaysia's preparation for the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, Khairy said he was happy with the progress.

On the Baton Run and the possibility of it becoming a permanent feature for the SEA Games, he said, it all depend on theorganisers.

The minister saw a lot of value in instilling the spirit of togetherness among countries in the region.

Next legof the "Rising Together Baton Run" will be held in Vietnam and Timor Leste this month.

He invited all Thais to Kuala Lumpur and support their sportsmen and sportswomen during the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.

Thailand's Sports and Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul who accompanied Khairyinthe closing ceremony of the Baton Run said, maintaining overall champion title is not too important compared to preserving unity among the ASEAN countries.

-- BERNAMA