Malaysian sports officials have set a target of 200 medals for the national contingent at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand but remain tight-lipped about the number of gold medals.
As neighbouring nations have announced their gold medal projections, Malaysia’s ‘safe’ stand has placed officials in the spotlight as they keep close tabs on security concerns, especially in light of recent protests in Thailand over Malaysia’s involvement in the peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia.
Missing from the press conference to announce the medal target were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria. Earlier, Yeoh and Norza attended the flag-handing-over ceremony at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia’s chef de mission and former national swimmer, Nurul Huda Abdullah, said that after a final round of discussions with athletes, officials, and the Youth and Sports Ministry, the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Sports Institute had on Nov 29 agreed to the overall target of 200 medals.
“We are sending our largest-ever contingent to a SEA Games – 1,142 athletes and 515 officials – and we are confident of achieving the target,” said Nurul Huda.
“Our athletes are well-prepared and looking forward to the Games.
“We have also allocated an extra half-million ringgit to move our athletes from Songkhla to Bangkok due to the flooding over there, to give them peace of mind.”
She also announced that Andre Anura Anuar (athletics) and Aaliyah Yoong (water skiing) would be the flag bearers.
Meanwhile, NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin defended the decision not to announce a gold-medal target.
“We don’t want to place undue pressure on our athletes,” said Jefri.
“But they know what they have to do in Thailand.”
When pointed out that the host nation is targeting 241 gold medals, Jefri said: “Thailand could use the target as a booster to secure more medals, or it could have the opposite effect on their athletes.”
When asked how having a gold target could serve as a booster for Thai athletes but not for Malaysia, he replied: “The situation is different as they are the hosts. The advantage is always with the host.”
Thailand is facing drama even before the SEA Games officially begin on Dec 9, with Cambodia pulling out of several sports over “safety concerns” as the border row between both nations continues to hog the spotlight.
On Nov 22, the United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty, known in Thailand as Ruam Palang Phaen Din Pok Pong Athipatai, staged protests outside the Malaysian embassy to demand that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stop interfering in Thailand’s handling of its border dispute with Cambodia. Protests also took place outside the United States embassy.
“We have set the SOP for any emergency, and security contingencies are in place. The chef de mission has established a 24-hour open channel for officials and athletes,” said Jefri.
“The embassies have been in touch, and our officials and athletes have been briefed on what they can and cannot do, as well as places they should avoid.
“I believe we have adequate measures in place,” he added.