From Nurul Izzati Mansor
SURABAYA, June 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been chosen to host the ASEAN University Games (AUG) 2026, said Higher Education Ministry official Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli.
Pekan, the ministry's Sports Section, Strategic Planning Division deputy secretary, said the decision was made at the ASEAN University Sports Council (AUSC) technical meeting attended by Malaysia and Cambodia here today.
He said the hosting rights for this year's AUG were supposed to belong to Malaysia but Indonesia offered to host it in Surabaya-Malang.
"So, rightfully it should be Malaysia's turn to host AUG 2026, but Cambodia also offered to stage it, forcing the meeting to be held to determine the host.
"Malaysia has been chosen to host AUG 2026. This is the right decision made by the AUSC secretariat in the meeting, thus sidelining Cambodia's intention to take over as the host," he told reporters here today.
He said this opportunity also gives Malaysia an advantage to aim for the champion title at AUG 2026, making it a key platform to develop more athletes from higher education institutions to represent the country at the SEA Games 2027.
Yesterday, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the ministry was ready to host AUG 2026 after the Cabinet approved its bid last Thursday.
Mustapha said hosting AUG 2026 in Malaysia also can provide the country with the best preparation for hosting the SEA Games 2027.
-- BERNAMA
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