Malaysia will focus on its overall medal tally rather than chasing gold medals at this year’s SEA Games in Thailand, says Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Speaking during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 5), Yeoh said this approach aligns with strategies adopted by nations such as Japan, South Korea, Iran, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Addressing concerns over the exclusion of potential medal-winning sports from the Games, Yeoh reassured that Olympic sports are generally expected to remain in the competition lineup.
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Speaking during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 5), Yeoh said this approach aligns with strategies adopted by nations such as Japan, South Korea, Iran, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Addressing concerns over the exclusion of potential medal-winning sports from the Games, Yeoh reassured that Olympic sports are generally expected to remain in the competition lineup.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/ybtn39pu
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Sukan Negara
00:04always cooperates with the United Nations and the main sponsors,
00:09namely the Olympic Palace of Malaysia and the Institute of Sukan Negara
00:13in implementing the Podium Programme to provide athletes for the Sukan Utama Championship,
00:18including the Sukan C2025 Championship in Thailand this year.
00:23The location of the PINGAT target will be determined after this together
00:28between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Sukan Negara Assembly,
00:31the United Nations and the Olympic Palace of Malaysia,
00:35given that the final registration for the athletes to complete the competition
00:40is still open until this September.
00:43However, among the sukan-sukan that are expected to contribute a large amount of PINGAT
00:49to the country's contingent are aquatics, bicycle track,
00:54hockey, archery, shooting, swimming, squash and ten-pin bowling.
01:00As with the previous location, the target of PINGAT is the total number of PINGAT
01:06and not according to the colour of the PINGAT.
01:09This location also takes into account the suggestions from the experts
01:13at the Nippon Sports Science University NSSU
01:16who have signed an MOU with the Sukan Negara Assembly.
01:20The location of the PINGAT target gives extra pressure to the athletes
01:25to display their best performance in the international sukan competition later.
01:30Such approach is also a practice that has been practiced for a long time
01:35in several countries such as Japan, Korea, Iran, Singapore and Hong Kong.
01:41So far, there are 350 athletes under the podium program from 19 types of sukan
01:48and 261 national athletes from 15 types of sukan
01:54are participating in the training program under the guidance of experienced coaches.
01:59To ensure that the performance of the athletes is at a good level,
02:03MSN together with the National Sukan Association, ISN and coaches
02:08have made a plan for 2025 through the periodization plan on 13 November last year.
02:15These programs will be carried out according to the plan and requirements
02:20as well as the support provided so that the level of performance of national athletes
02:25in the best condition to compete in the Sukan Sea Thailand 2025
02:29as well as in other major competitions.
02:31The cancellation of the event carried out by the host
02:35will affect the number of PINGATs that will be raised by the state contingent
02:40because it involves national athlete women's events such as Sukan Bersikal,
02:45Gym Rama, E-Sukan and Pencak Silat.
02:48In addition, the addition of the event will give an advantage to Thailand
02:53as the host with the promotion of the event that gives an advantage to their athletes.
03:04Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for the answer given earlier.
03:08Earlier, the Minister mentioned that the change in the event was made by the host
03:13and it gives an advantage to the host.
03:16I think this is unfair for the countries that set up the Sukan Sea.
03:21What is Malaysia's position?
03:23If it needs to be stated firmly, it cannot.
03:26Actually, the host changed the event as he pleased.
03:29He was informed earlier so that we can make a thorough preparation
03:32and provide sufficient preparation to our athletes and also to other countries.
03:37I think this is unfair, Mr. Speaker.
03:40That's the first point.
03:41Secondly, as mentioned earlier by the Minister,
03:45we no longer regret the number of PINGATs.
03:48But in the end, the Sukan Sea will determine our country's position based on the number of PINGATs.
03:54So it still gives pressure to our athletes, Mr. Minister.
03:59How do we adjust ourselves to this situation?
04:02And finally, Mr. Speaker,
04:05regarding the new events, even though we may not agree...
04:09There are three additional questions.
04:11The Minister is smart, he can answer all of them.
04:14The adjustments that we have to make,
04:16because we have to win the Sukan Sea even though there are new events.
04:19What serious actions can we take for these new events so that our athletes can win?
04:23Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister.
04:25Okay.
04:26The first question is about the baseline.
04:30What will Malaysia do to ensure that we are not surprised every time our event is eliminated from the competition?
04:40So this is related to the SEA Games Federation.
04:43And for the three SEA Games that will come, namely Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore,
04:48they have agreed to limit the number of Sukan that is competed,
04:55to limit the number of Sukan that is competed in the Olympic Games.
05:03So the baseline is that the Olympic Games will not be eliminated,
05:07so that there is consistency.
05:09But for the others, that is under the decision of the organizers.
05:19Okay.
05:20And I am sure that the Malaysian Olympic Games have gone there to compete,
05:25and there are events that they have held before this,
05:29and after the competition and the appeal, they have returned.
05:32To answer about the baseline,
05:34when we discussed with the Nippon Sports Science University,
05:37and when we did the post-mortem with the experts,
05:40they said that when we announced the target of the number of gold bars,
05:47and where it will come from,
05:49there will be a high pressure on certain athletes.
05:54And for developing countries,
05:57they have released this to make sure that they only announce the number of gold bars,
06:02and everyone has the responsibility to contribute to the number of gold bars.
06:09And based on the assessment that we have done with the athletes,
06:14especially in Southeast Asia,
06:16they feel happier when there is a target for the entire contingent,
06:21and every gold medalist,
06:23even if they are a bronze medalist,
06:25they feel that they are recognized as a winner,
06:28and not just a gold medalist.
06:32So this is a better goal,
06:36and more suitable for our athletes.
06:39And this is also not done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself.
06:43We have discussed with the experts,
06:45and they agree that this is a new target.
06:47We have to adapt to other developing countries that have changed in that direction.