{
  "id": 13078174,
  "title": "2027 Budget: RM757mil allocated for sports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/2027-budget-rm757mil-allocated-for-sports",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T09:21:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/10/1551633/2027-budget-rm757mil-allocated-sports"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the 2027 Malaysian budget, RM757 million has been allocated for sports development, with RM240 million designated for preparing to host the SEA Games and Asean Para Games next year. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim disclosed these figures during the presentation of the Fifth Madani 2027 Budget in Parliament. A significant portion, RM460 million, will be invested in national sports development, encompassing high-performance programs, the Road to Gold initiative, programs for para-athletes and deaf sports, as well as the upkeep of sports facilities across the nation. Furthermore, RM30 million is earmarked for the Sports Matching Grant to incentivize sports associations, clubs, and non-governmental organizations to host sporting events. School sports activities will receive an additional RM27 million, a 50% increase, benefiting over 4.6 million students from 10,000 schools nationwide. Anwar also lauded the national contingent for achieving Malaysia's best-ever gold medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Malaysia secured nine gold, seven silver, and 16 bronze medals. He extended congratulations to all athletes, coaches, and officials, acknowledging their contribution to the country's honor. Malaysia will serve as the host for the SEA Games and Asean Para Games in 2027, with Anwar emphasizing the importance of these events in elevating the country's standing and fostering national unity. The Unity League at the community level, targeting 200,000 participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds through traditional sports, will be introduced as part of this initiative. Additionally, individual income tax relief for sports equipment purchases will be extended to encompass sports shoes, while organizers of sporting events at Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara will be exempt from entertainment duty. The Kampung Angkat Madani program will continue to support community sports infrastructure, including the construction of football pitches in rural areas. In 2025, the government unveiled a RM580 million sports development plan, a substantial increase from the previous RM230 million allocation, to bolster national sports programs and preparations for the 2027 regional Games.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated RM757 million for sports development in 2027 Budget, including RM240 million for preparations to host the SEA Games and Asean Para Games next year.",
  "key_points": [
    "RM757 million allocated for sports in 2027 Malaysian budget",
    "RM240 million for SEA Games and Asean Para Games preparations",
    "RM27 million increase for school sports activities"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}