KUALA LUMPUR — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called for a shift in mindset as Malaysia prepares to host the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, stressing that the focus must be on Olympic sports rather than trying to win the overall medal tally at all costs.
Speaking at the ministry’s Hari Raya Open House today, Hannah said the government would no longer subscribe to the ‘jaguh kampung’ mentality – a term often used to describe being dominant only on home soil by adding niche sports for easy gold medals.
“I agree with Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria (OCM President) that we cannot subscribe to the ‘jaguh kampung’ mentality, but rather be more realistic,” said Hannah.
“We can’t keep adding sports just to win the overall title. What’s more important is focusing on Olympic sports, and whether we add any others will depend on the budget.”
Malaysia is set to host the 2027 SEA Games with four states involved – Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, and Johor – and Hannah emphasised that the scale and scope of the event would be guided by financial constraints and national priorities.
“We’ve projected our budget, and the concept for 2027 will be different. It’s not something we can compare with past editions,” she added, referencing remarks made by Norza recently, who has pushed for a streamlined, performance-driven SEA Games.
“The suggestions by Norza are grounded in reality. It’s not about being champions by any means necessary. That’s why we’re taking this approach.”
A new Malaysian SEA Games Organising Committee (Masoc) will be formed soon, with OCM and other stakeholders to be part of the discussions.
A chief executive officer will be appointed to oversee preparations, which Hannah admitted are on a tight timeline.
“Time is short. Once the CEO is in place, we need to get moving,” she said.
“What events we host will depend on the budget, input from the national sports associations, and OCM.”
Hannah also acknowledged the informal cooperation between Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, saying Malaysia will study Thailand’s upcoming SEA Games model, which prioritised Olympic disciplines.
While Malaysia has a proud tradition in the SEA Games – finishing as overall champions when they last hosted in 2017 – Hannah hinted that 2027 may mark a turning point in how the country measures success. — April 21, 2025