YANG di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V tonight officially declared the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017) open at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur.  

His Majesty arrived at 8.22pm accompanied by Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor, and also Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and wife Hamidah Khamis.          

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar after his speech invited His Majesty to declare KL2017 open.     

Standing at the royal rostrum, Sultan Muhammad said: “Bismillahirahmanirrahim, I with the greatest pleasure declare the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur open.”      

Dignitaries present included Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek and International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed.   

The 29th edition of the Games will run until August 30, and brings together some 4,900 athletes from 11 countries – Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam,  Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste and hosts Malaysia.

At stake are 404 gold medals in 38 sports, with ice skating, ice hockey, indoor hockey and cricket being held for the first time. – Bernama, August 19, 2017