PRIME Minister Najib Razak tonight officially declared the 9th Para Asean Games open at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib arrived at 8.20pm accompanied by wife Rosmah Mansor and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy after his speech invited the prime minister to declare the 9th Para Asean Games open.

Dignitaries present included Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM) President SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin and MPM patron Jeanne Abdullah.

The 9th edition of the Games which will end on September 23 brings together some 1,421 para athletes from 11 countries – Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam,  Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste and hosts Malaysia.

At stake are 368 gold medals in 16 sports, which is the highest number of sports for competition at the Games. – Bernama, September 17, 2017.