The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has suggested that the Selangor-hosted Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) XXII 2026 be postponed until the conflict in West Asia subsides and the Shah Alam Stadium is fully completed.
In His Royal Address at the opening of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting, the Sultan said the sporting event would require a substantial allocation of funds, and current economic conditions should be carefully considered.
Sultan Sharafuddin also proposed that the 2026 Piala Sultan Selangor football match between Selangor and Singapore be cancelled in view of similar concerns.
At the same time, His Royal Highness approved a separate initiative — the Piala Jubli Perak youth football tournament for Under-15 players across Selangor districts — aimed at nurturing young talent and promoting grassroots sports development.
The Sultan noted that football remains the most popular sport among Selangor residents and should continue to be developed at school level for long-term growth.
The royal address was delivered in the presence of Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Earlier reports had stated that SUKMA XXII Selangor 2026 was scheduled to proceed from 15 to 24 August next year despite global economic pressures and ongoing energy-related challenges.
The final decision on the Games was previously made during a high-level committee meeting chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, alongside representatives from the Olympic Council of Malaysia and other sports authorities.
The Games are expected to feature 474 events across 37 sports, with competitions to be held across 53 venues in nine districts throughout Selangor.
