The Selangor State Government has announced a major cost-cutting measure for the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), reducing the hosting budget by nearly 50 percent. Originally estimated at RM100 million, the expenditure has been adjusted to a range of RM40 million to RM50 million for the event scheduled from August 15 to 24.

This move follows the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who consented to the games proceeding under the condition of prudent and cautious spending. The decision was reached following a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Selangor’s Exco for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneurship, Mohd Najwan Halimi, detailed several areas where savings will be implemented:

• Ceremonial Events: The opening ceremony at the Sepang International Circuit and the closing ceremony will be scaled down to a symbolic format to prevent wastage.
• Manpower Optimization: The volunteer target has been drastically reduced from 30,000 to fewer than 5,000 personnel.
• Infrastructure Use: The state will fully utilize existing sports facilities and collaborate with the National Sports Council (MSN) to avoid building new infrastructure or paying high rental costs.

Despite the budget cuts, the state government has guaranteed that the technical and competition standards will not be compromised. This ensures that athlete performance remains the top priority and is supported by high-quality officiating and facilities.

Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari expressed his appreciation for the Sultan’s consent, noting that continuing the games is essential for the ongoing development of national athletes.