MOHE Committed To Raising National Sports Standards

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is committed to supporting the government’s efforts to elevate the standard of national sports through the organisation and participation in both national and international sporting events.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said full support would continue to be given to sports development in higher education institutions which are capable of producing outstanding athletes, including in the ASEAN Schools Games, ASEAN University Games, World University Games, SEA Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics.

He highlighted Malaysia’s best achievement at the World University Games (UNIVERSIADE) 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, where the national contingent won one silver and one bronze medal.

“The silver medal was secured by Khiew Hoe Yean of UCSI University in the men’s 400m freestyle swimming event, while the bronze was won by Wong Ling Ching of Shah Alam Politechnic in the women’s singles badminton event.

“The success of school athletes under the Ministry of Education (MOE) also deserves recognition, among them Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal Azira from the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Terengganu, who clinched four gold medals while breaking the MSSM 2025 athletics championship record,” he said.

“This achievement clearly demonstrates the ability of our athletes to compete at major international sporting events,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 10th Malaysian Educational Institutions Games (SIPMA) 2025 at UTM Stadium, Skudai, Johor Bahru, tonight.

On the organisation of SIPMA, Zambry said the sports meet serves as an important platform for athletes under the age of 23 to showcase their talents.

He said SIPMA provides opportunities to identify new talents with the potential to represent the country on bigger stages, while strengthening efforts to develop holistic human capital through the integration of education and sports.

The 10th edition of SIPMA, jointly organised by MOHE, the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), runs from Sept 1 to 7. It brings together 241 athletes and 54 officials representing various educational institutions nationwide, as well as technical officials, referees, and volunteers.

The meet features 10 sports - swimming, badminton, football, tenpin bowling, athletics, hockey, netball, sepak takraw, archery, and volleyball, with 121 gold medals up for grabs.

Eight sports councils are involved, namely MASUM, MASISWA (Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions Sports Council), MSP (Malaysian Polytechnic Sports Council), MASKOM (Community College Sports Council), MSIPGM (Teacher Education Institute Sports Council), MSSM, MASKOV (Vocational College Sports Council), and MSMM (Matriculation Sports Council).

-- BERNAMA