KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) has no plans at present to build a new international-standard athletics stadium, instead will focus on upgrading existing facilities as part of preparations for the 2027 SEA Games.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the decision was made based on the fact that existing facilities such as the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (SNBJ) remain in top condition and meet the required standards.
“The government has decided to upgrade existing sports facilities to ensure that venues are in optimal condition ahead of the hosting of the Games next year.
“This approach is more appropriate in order to optimise the use of facilities in an economical and effective manner,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kasim (PN–Arau), who sought to know why Malaysia was not building a new athletics stadium and a dedicated sports university to ensure that national athletes do not lag behind at the international level.
Commenting on the proposal for a dedicated sports university, Mordi explained that, for now, existing higher education institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) are sufficient to offer sports-related fields of study progressively according to needs.
Based on current statistics, he said six public higher education institutions (IPTA) and five private higher education institutions (IPTS) nationwide offer courses related to the field.
“Latest statistics record enrolment among Malaysian citizens at bachelor’s degree level in sports-related fields at 4,016 students in IPTA and 710 students in IPTS.
“To support athletes’ studies, KBS offers the Federal Sports Scholarship, which has benefited 1,349 recipients up to 2025, and this initiative will be continued in 2026 with an allocation of RM2 million,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
