Govt to decide on 2026 Commonwealth Games hosting offer tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will decide on the offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in a Cabinet meeting on Friday (March 22), says Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

She said the decision must undergo thorough analysis and cannot be made hastily.

“Pending the government's current undisclosed stance, the Youth and Sports Ministry is of the view that the people's interests always come first. We are committed to not wasting taxpayers' money, even if we are prepared to host the Games," said Yeoh.

“The ministry will ensure a conservative financial approach is taken every time with the people’s money,” she added in a reply to Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) during the Ministers’ Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 21).

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Afnan Hamimi wanted to know the government’s stance on Malaysia's bid to host the Games after Australia withdrew last year due to the increase in organising costs from $A2.6bil (RM8.09bil) to $A7bil (RM21.78bil).

The withdrawal was made after taking into account the current state of the country's economy and the welfare of the people.

Yeoh said that in the case that the government agreed to host the Games, the ministry calls for prudent spending so that the expenses do not surpass the RM603mil grant provided by the CGF.

“Considering the financial implications for the people’s money, it may be prudent not to host the Games if it would strain the country's resources. The final decision rests with the Cabinet,” she said.

Yeoh then said that her ministry is prepared to appoint a monitoring body to conduct audits if Malaysia proceeds with hosting the Games.

“This decision incorporates the views of Olympians, experts and various stakeholders to guarantee transparent financial management," said Yeoh.

She added that her ministry feels it is important to adhere to proper procedures and transparent financial practices to ensure accountability.

“Let’s not overstep the Cabinet's decision tomorrow. I believe the Cabinet decision will prioritise the nation's interests while considering the welfare of the people,” said Yeoh.

Afnan Hamimi said he agreed with the ministry’s stance and called for past experiences to be referred to and studied before the government decides.

“For the record, Sukom 1998 incurred a loss of RM11.6mil. The accounts were only settled after a prolonged period of 13 years due to 23 court cases and 15 judgments primarily concerning outstanding debts and financial explanations," said Afnan.

He added that the city of Birmingham in the United Kingdombecame bankrupt after hosting a similar event.

“These past cases, experiences and financial records ought to serve as valuable references moving forward as we anticipate tomorrow's decision.”

He also called for a financial forecast and assessment to analyse the potential implications.

“If government expenditure is necessary, it is essential to prioritise spending in a manner that benefits the people,” he said.

Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat) also suggested scaling down the number of sporting events and utilising venues outside of Kuala Lumpur, including using the over 27,000 unsold homes if Malaysia decided to host the Games.