‘Malaysians disappointed’ with lowest SEA Games ranking in 40 years

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 21 May 2022 2:20PM · 3 Comments

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu (right) says Malaysia should not be content with its sixth position at the SEA Games. – Facebook pic, May 21, 2022.

THE youth and sports minister said “all Malaysians are disappointed” with what is threatening to be the country’s lowest placing at the SEA Games in almost 40 years.

Ahmad Faizal Azumu sounded the alarm despite athletes reaching the set target of 36 golds yesterday, with only two days of competition to go.

But Malaysia, traditionally a regional power, languished sixth in the medals table as of this morning, with hosts Vietnam way out in front with 167 golds, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines.

“All Malaysians are disappointed because we are not at a higher position,” said Faizal at the Games yesterday, according to state news agency Bernama.

“We should not be content with our sixth position at the Games.”

Malaysia is usually in the regional top five, and the last time it settled for sixth was in 1983, when only eight nations took part, compared to the current 11.

It is set to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in July-August, while the Asian Games (Asiad) in China later this year have been indefinitely postponed.

Faizal said: “The exposure gained at the SEA Games is crucial for us to achieve more success in other multisports Games like the Commonwealth Games and Asiad.”

The federal government slashed sports spending to RM289 million last year from RM940 million the year before. It also cut down its full-time number of athletes to 288 from 432, months after a poor Tokyo Olympics showing of one silver and one bronze.

Malaysia made a strong start at the SEA Games, winning all eight golds in diving, with the rest of the medals scattered across other sports.

Its last hope for more medals may rest in badminton, one of the few sports it does well in internationally, with semi-finals and finals over the next two days. – AFP, May 21, 2022.

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Comments

  • Peja, when u set the target for 36 medals , didnt you see that was the lowest already? Please dont bring Malaysians into this sendiri target sendiri disappointed ka? We are more disappointed to have you as Sports Minister actually

    Posted 1 year ago by TanSri Norris · Reply

  • Not only in SEA Games, Malaysia will continue to drop behind other ASEAN countries with respect to economy and education standard as well but will rank the highest in terms of corruption and government mismanagement.

    Posted 1 year ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

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