PENANG: The Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (MASOC) 2027 intensifies coordination among all organising committees and clusters to ensure that preparations for the 34th SEA Games and the 14th ASEAN Para Games scheduled for next year, are carried out smoothly and comprehensively.

MASOC 2027 Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Rashid Yaakub stated that with the one-year countdown to the 2027 SEA Games in September next year approaching, all parties must streamline preparations and ensure that outstanding matters are resolved according to schedule.

He noted that while various preparations at the MASOC level have already been undertaken, several matters still require updating and coordination, specifically the appointment of vendors and suppliers, which must be finalised within this year.

“Much preparation has been done at the MASOC level, but it needs to be updated. The appointment of vendors and suppliers must be concluded this year so that implementation can begin immediately next year,” he said.

He made these remarks while addressing the Coordination Workshop between the Organising Committee and the Host State Governments for the 34th SEA Games and the 14th ASEAN Para Games 2027 in Penang on Monday.

Datuk Abdul Rashid added that the successful hosting of both games is part of a national undertaking requiring the commitment and close cooperation of all parties.

He stated that although each committee has its own specific roles and responsibilities, all parties must operate as one team to ensure that interdependencies between committees are identified and effectively coordinated.

“I hope all parties can assist and join forces to make this national mission a success. We are all part of this mission, and each of us has a role to play,” he said.

In this regard, he emphasised that clear and continuous communication between committees and clusters is crucial to avoid confusion during the actual execution of the games.

“Continue the work, and most importantly, maintain communication, whether between committees or clusters, to prevent any disarray.

“We must assist one another. Communication must be clear and working relationships must be continuously reinforced through a mutual understanding of each party's needs to ensure the success of next year’s SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games,” he said.

He also urged that issues potentially affecting the smooth organisation of the event such as weather conditions and haze be addressed well in advance.

According to him, consultations with neighbouring countries regarding the haze issue should be considered to mitigate the risk of a recurrence during the Games, which could involve the participation of top-level leadership if the situation threatens to impact the event's organisation.

On the second day of the workshop, all 18 committees across the various clusters engaged in a process to identify and refine inter-committee dependencies, ensuring comprehensive coordination.

Malaysia will host the 34th SEA Games from 18 to 29 September 2027, spanning four main clusters involving Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang and Johor.

The 2027 SEA Games will mark the seventh time Malaysia serves as host for this biennial Southeast Asian sporting event, with Sarawak serving as a host cluster for the first time.

Sarawak has also been accorded the honour of hosting the opening ceremony of the 2027 SEA Games at the Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya, in addition to serving as a key cluster for hosting competitive events.

Meanwhile, the 14th ASEAN Para Games is scheduled to take place from 17 to 23 October 2027, rounding out the hosting of these two major regional sporting events in Malaysia for the year. -UKASnews