Sarawak hands over torch to Selangor for SUKMA 2026
- BT
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
KUCHING, 7 January 2026: Sarawak is ready to defend the title of overall champions of the upcoming Malaysian Games, better known as SUKMA XXII, which is taking place in Selangor this August 15 to 24, 2026.
This was announced earlier today during a press conference here in Kuching, which also saw the symbolic handover of the SUKMA torch, where Sarawak’s Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah officially handed over the burning torch to Selangor’s Exco for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship, Mohd Najwan Halimi. The handover ceremony followed an official courtesy visit from the Selangor state government, who also extended an invitation for Sarawak to participate in both SUKMA XXII and Para SUKMA 2026, which is taking place across Selangor, namely in Petaling Jaya and Klang Valley.
According to Mohd Najwan, a total of 37 sports and 474 events will be held, maintaining the scale set by Sarawak in the 2024 edition of the Games as well as the event’s status as the largest national-level sports event in Malaysia. “Over 80% of the facilities have been upgraded, with Shah Alam Aquatic Centre and the shooting range in Subang expected to reach completion in April. Meanwhile, for the first time ever, the SUKMA 2026 Opening Ceremony will be held at the Sepang International Circuit, due to ongoing upgrades to the Shah Alam Stadium,” shared Mohd Najwan during the press conference.
“As our Prime Minister, Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim once said, the real test lies in our ability to defend our championship outside our home turf. Sarawak will be sending our best athletes to the upcoming Games. As reigning champion, our contingent will be one of the biggest in the event, with intense preparations being conducted to ensure that our athletes compete at peak performance to defend our title of overall champion,” added Dato Sri Abdul Karim.
Also present at the handover ceremony and courtesy visit, other members of the Selangor delegation, Deputy State Secretary of Selangor and Chief Executive Officer of SUKMA Selangor 2026, Dato Mohd Yazid Sairi, Chief Operations Officer, Mohamad Nizam Marjugi, Senior Secretary to the Exco of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship, Mohd Akif Ruzaini Ab Ghofar, Operations Senior Director, Mazurah Mohamed, Sports and Events Director, Ahmad Fahim Rosli, Working Secretary to the Exco of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship, Mohamad Khairuddin Zahari as well as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak, Dzulkornain Masron, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Nur Alina Abdullah @ Colliner Gohe and SUKMA Sarawak 2024 mascots, Satria and Satrina and SUKMA Selangor 2026 mascots, a part of White Eagles.
