Sukma Yeoh Denies Sidelining Kelantan Says State Needs More Time

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Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has denied using her power to sideline Kelantan from hosting the Malaysian Games (Sukma) 2024, as claimed by a PAS leader.
She stated that her ministry has lodged a police report against PAS Kelantan Youth chief Mohamad Kamal Mohamed over his statement that was published in Harakah and on Facebook.
“PAS slandered me again. We at the youth and sports ministry have not denied Kelantan’s right to host Sukma.
“Yesterday, the Kelantan exco was with me at the ministry and agreed to host Sukma 2028 to give the state a longer preparation period. The infrastructure also needs time to build,” Yeoh said in a Facebook post today.
She also said Sarawak will host Sukma 2024, followed by the National Sports Council for Sukma 2026.
Yeoh cited an excerpt from Mohamad Kamal’s statement, where he alleged that Kelantan lost its right to host Sukma 2024 to Sarawak because of a “DAP minister known for using power in silence”.
“Kelantan Youth will take note of this denial of hosting Sukma in political history in terms of power and denying Kelantan’s right,” the PAS leader said.
NSC denies PAS leader’s claims
In a related development, National Sports Council director-general Ahmad Shapawi Ismail also released a statement denying Mohamad Kamal's claims.
"The joint decision was reached following discussions between me and the Kelantan state Youth, Sports and NGO Committee chairperson Roslan Wan Mahat, and was approved by the Sukma supreme council meeting held on March 16," he said.
For the record, Kelantan has yet to host the event since it was first held in 1986 in Kuala Lumpur.
In the meantime, Ahmad Shapawi expressed his appreciation for Sarawak’s preparation to host Sukma 2024 following Johor's decision to return the rights to host the event to the National Sports Council.
"Sarawak's readiness can maintain the principle of rotating hosts between national and state governments in organising Sukma," he concluded. - Mkini

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