SHAH ALAM, Sept 16 — Selangor will focus on upgrading existing venues to meet international standards, rather than build new facilities, for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the approach is aimed at fulfilling requirements set by sports associations while ensuring quality is prioritised across all venues.
“We are not ready to host Sukma 2026 at the Shah Alam Sports Complex. For now, the focus is on ensuring that existing locations meet the requirements. This will be given special attention so we do not face issues with the quality of the fields,” he told Media Selangor in a special interview.
Amirudin acknowledged that the absence of a main stadium remains the biggest challenge, particularly in managing the opening and closing ceremonies, but assured that the Sukma Secretariat is committed to holding a successful event.
“The lack of a main venue is a major hurdle, but the secretariat will ensure the Games are organised well and leave a lasting impact on the state,” he said.
Amirudin previously announced that upgrades to several facilities, including stadiums and the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre, will be done by next March.
Sukma 2026 will run from August 15 to 24, followed by Para Sukma from September 5 to 14. The opening ceremony will be held at the Sepang International Circuit, while the closing ceremony will be held at the MBPJ Stadium.
Over 10,000 athletes and officials from 15 states, along with an invited contingent from Brunei, are expected to participate.
Thirty compulsory sports and four optional events will be contested, with competitions held across nine districts.
