SHAH ALAM, Aug 10 — E-sports will be an optional event in the Malaysian Games (Sukma) 2026 in Selangor, but the state government is pushing for its formal recognition and regulation nationally.
According to state executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi, Selangor is working with the National Sports Council (MSN), Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), and Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) to recognise e-sports’ official status and develop rules and procedures for its inclusion in school sports programmes.
“E-sports doesn’t have any regulation with regard to its implementation in extracurricular activities in schools. We are pushing the KBS and Education Ministry (to implement it).
“Recently, in Selangor, we organised the Selangor Future Cup, involving over 60 secondary schools. The event aims to identify new talent and potential athletes who can be groomed for the Selangor Red Giant e-sports team,” he said when met after the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) silver jubilee celebration, held in conjunction with the Shah Alam Car-Free Day at Dataran Kemerdekaan here today.
On August 5, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said e-sports will be among four additional sports to feature in Sukma 2026, the three others being chess, cricket, and kabaddi.
Asked if the state government has identified a Sukma venue for the e-sports event, Najwan said this has not been decided, but options include the MBSA Convention Centre or a location in Petaling Jaya.
He added that the plans for the Carlton Hotel in Section 13 here to be transformed into an e-sports hub are on hold due to administrative and ownership issues, which Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, is working to resolve.
He said due to budget constraints, the state will prioritise upgrading the Selangor Aquatic Centre, which will be the Sukma venue for swimming and aquatic events.
“Our focus is to upgrade our sports facilities and once the issues involving MBI and the Carlton Hotel have been resolved, we can look ahead and plan the next step for the (e-sports hub development),” he said.
Previously, when tabling the 2025 Selangor State Budget on November 15 last year, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the state will transform Carlton Hotel into an e-sports hub with a RM1 million investment, with the aim of hosting international and regional tournaments.
He said the initiative was inspired by the Selangor Red Giants’ victory in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament last year.
