Filepic of Onn Hafiz (wearing cap) inspecting the swimming pool at the Larkin Aquatic Arena in Johor Baru.
Johor is reinforcing its position as a preferred destination for international sporting events.
State youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the state had become a top choice for organisers seeking venues to host global and regional tournaments.
“It is true that Johor has now become a preferred venue for world-class sporting events,” he told StarMetro.
He attributed this success to the vision and commitment of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who has a deep interest in sports development across the state.
Mohd Hairi: Organisers seeking venues to host global tournaments are looking at Johor.
Mohd Hairi also commended Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi for his consistent support of youth and sports development initiatives in Johor, including programmes by the Orang Muda Johor (OMJ).
OMJ is a youth empowerment initiative established by the state government under the guidance of Tunku Ismail.
Mohd Hairi said Johor was well equipped with numerous sports assets under the Johor Stadium Corporation (PSJ), many of which had the potential to host international events including football, rugby, hockey, netball, basketball, archery, cycling and e-sports.
“Our facilities are not left to waste or turn into white elephants.
“I monitor them closely and ensure that the Johor Sports Council (MSNJ) and PSJ maintain all venues properly, including new ones such as Velodrome Johor, Larkin Aquatic Arena and Johor Shooting Range,” he said.
Several of these venues have also become popular choices for both national and local competitions, further enhancing Johor’s sports credentials.
To further encourage an active lifestyle, the state government launched a new campaign known as Xtif Johor, aimed at making sports a part of daily life for all Johoreans.
Mohd Hairi said the campaign involved various segments of society, including families, schools, government agencies and the corporate sector.
The Larkin assemblyman said that upcoming international sporting events included the Bank Rakyat Johor International Marathon (BRJIM) 2025 on Nov 8 and 9 in Kota Iskandar.
He said the marathon, organised by MSNJ with Bank Rakyat as the main sponsor, was expected to attract over 8,000 runners from Malaysia and abroad.
“With thousands of participants, I believe BRJIM 2025 will not only raise Johor’s profile on the world stage but also boost the state’s economy through tourism and service sectors,” said Mohd Hairi.
He added that the event would further strengthen Johor’s position as a regional sporting hub, in line with Tunku Ismail’s vision under the Johor Sports Nation 2023 initiative.
