KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — The 15th general election (GE15) will not affect the holding of the 2022 Para Malaysia Games (Para Sukma) which is scheduled to take place in the Klang Valley from November 1 to 6.

Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said all plans are now being carried out by the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council (MSN) to ensure the success of the Games.

"Even though GE15 is just around the corner, it will not have any effect (on Para Sukma). What has been planned will move forward and everything is on track,” he said at a press conference after delivering the message of Virtus Oceania Asian Games 2022 in Brisbane here today.

He said the organising of Para Sukma this time is important in identifying new talents besides offering a platform to the athletes after the last Sukma in the 2018 edition in Perak.

The Election Commission (EC) has on October 20 fixed November 19 as the polling day for GE15 and the nomination day is set for November 5 while early voting is on November 15.

Meanwhile, Megat D Shahriman also announced that a delegation of 19 individuals comprising 11 athletes aged between 18 and 30 years old and eight officials will represent the country in its first appearance at the Virtus Oceania Asian Games in Australia on November 5 to 11.

"They are expected to depart on November 4 and return on November 13. Malaysia will take part in three of the sports events offered namely athletics, swimming and table tennis,” he said.

He said the team has not set any medals target in the Asia and Oceania sports event in Brisbane to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the athletes.

He, however, expressed hope that the athletes qualify for the world-level tournament known as the Virtus Global Games to be held in Vichy, France next year.

Virtus is an international body formerly known as INAS (International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability).

Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) Paralympic Division director Mohd Sofian Hamzah said he was impressed with the achievements of its two cycling athletes at the 2022 Para World Track Cycling Championships in France last week who brought home a silver and a bronze.

He said he was proud of achievements that proved the athletes were indeed hungry for success considering that the competition in France was their first international championship this year.

Last Thursday, Malaysia won a silver medal in the 750 meters team tandem sprint event through Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri and Mohd Khairul Hazwan Wahab followed by the success of Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin in the C1 1000m time trial, a day later. — Bernama