SHAH ALAM, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The opening of the 22nd Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXII) and Para SUKMA 2026 was held in full vigour at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam here tonight.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, together with state government leaders and dignitaries.
The latest edition of the Games will involve more than 5,000 young athletes from across the country, competing for 468 gold medals in 37 sports until Aug 24.
Selangor last hosted the Games in 1998.
This edition also saw the Selangor state government take drastic cost-cutting measures, reducing the initial allocation of RM100 million to between RM40 million and RM50 million, in line with the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, for the Games to be organised prudently.
Sultan Sharafuddin had previously decreed that the hosting of SUKMA Selangor 2026 should be postponed until the crisis in West Asia was resolved and the redevelopment of Shah Alam Stadium was fully completed.
However, His Royal Highness consented to the biennial Games being held prudently after granting an audience to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Sarawak won the overall SUKMA title in 2024 with 76 gold medals, one ahead of second-placed Federal Territories, while Selangor finished third with 56 gold.
Tonight’s ceremony was given a distinct touch with performances showcasing Selangor’s identity, the parade of contingents led by the Jalur Gemilang and state flags, as well as a speech by the Selangor Menteri Besar.
The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the Games torch in Shah Alam, marking the official start of the competition.
-- BERNAMA