'Stop demonising Malaysia over SEA Games sport selection'

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's host nation status in the upcoming SEA Games has sparked controversy in Indonesia, with the country expressing dissatisfaction over the selection of sports. Eight of Indonesia's favored sports have been left out of the Games, leading to the Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister, Erick Thohir, writing to his Malaysian counterpart, Dr Taufiq Johari, seeking clarification.

Pundit Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli, however, questions why Indonesia is surprised by the situation, noting that host nations often reserve the right to choose the sports they include. He pointed out that when Indonesia hosted the 2011 SEA Games, they also excluded several favored sports. This appears to be a recurring issue that has been ongoing for decades, and it might persist until rigid guidelines are established for sport selection, according to Dr Pekan.

He emphasized that while host nations can have a say in sport selection, this limited influence is essential for the success of the event. The current SEAGF rules only mandate athletics and aquatics, but provide host nations with significant flexibility in selecting other Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The popularity of newer sports in recent years has further complicated the issue, making it more challenging to agree on a universal set of guidelines.