KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today said that one of the reasons why Malaysia failed to achieve its gold medal target at the recent SEA Games was due to the host country cancelling several sporting events.

She said the sporting events that were withdrawn were events that Malaysia had targeted for 18 gold medals.

"The host country’s strategy this time made a decision to not put up a few events for competition whereby Malaysia had targeted 18 gold medals, and they introduced some traditional sports of their country which offered 93 gold medals.

"Apart from that, the host country also listed many imported athletes in the main sporting events and changed a few rules regarding age.

"All of these things have narrowed the national contingent’s overall chances of winning medals for Malaysia,” Yeoh told the Parliament today during Minister’s Question Time.

She was responding to PAS’ Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari who asked the minister about thee next course of action that will be implemented, following the poor performance in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

"Taking into account Cambodia's strategy, part of the initial determination of Malaysia's participation in the SEA Games this time is for us to give wider exposure and opportunities to young athletes competing for the first time in Cambodia.

"The achievements of young athletes, 427 or 63 per cent who competed this time were under 23-years-old and 62 per cent were athletes who went to the SEA Games for the first time.

"Of these, 12 gold medalists and 20 silver and 46 bronze medalists are first-time athletes, and two of them are only 15 years old, there are more youths who broke records but I can’t read them all,” she added.

In listing the country’s next course of action, Yeoh said the Ministry will focus on sports that have the potential to bring back many medals.

"The National Sports Associations is required to submit short-term and long-term plans, to ensure that Malaysia can compete with Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam at the next SEA Games and also for the Asian Games and Olympics Games.

"Among the emphasis that will be given are sporting events that will offer the many gold medals such as swimming and athletics which must bring change. This emphasis will be given because the athletes have many events to bring back medals.

"We will also focus on self-defense and diving because these two sporting events have brought us gold medals and their athletes are excellent,” she said adding that one of the divers was present at Parliament today observing the proceeding from the public gallery.