Raja Muda of Selangor officiates opening of 2026 Sukma

Shah Alam witnessed the opening ceremony of the 22nd Malaysia Games, Sukma and Para Sukma 2026, last night. The event was presided over by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, alongside Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and the Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, among other dignitaries.

The 2026 Games will see over 5,000 young athletes from across the nation competing for 468 gold medals across 37 sports until August 24. Selangor hosted the Games in 1998, with the current event aiming for a more cost-efficient approach, with the initial budget reduced from RM100 million to between RM40 million and RM50 million, as per the Sultan of Selangor's decree.

The Sultan had initially proposed a postponement of the Games until the Middle East crisis was resolved and the Shah Alam Stadium redevelopment was finished. However, His Royal Highness agreed to the biennial Games being held on a smaller scale after a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Sarawak claimed the overall Sukma title in 2024 with 76 gold medals, one more than the Federal Territories, while Selangor secured third place with 56 gold medals.

The ceremony featured performances highlighting Selangor's identity, a parade of contingents under the Jalur Gemilang and state flags, a speech by the Selangor Menteri Besar, and concluded with the lighting of the Games torch in Shah Alam, signifying the official start of the competition.