Budget 2027 sport reaction: BAM eyes RM30m matching grant as analysts question RM730m Olympic push
BAM wants to use Budget 2027's RM30 million Sports Matching Grant to develop back-up players, while analysts say the RM730 million sport package is mostly SEA Games money.
Malaysia's sports bodies spent the weekend working out what Budget 2027 means for them. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said it wants to use the new RM30 million Sports Matching Grant to give back-up players more competition, while two sports analysts argued that the overall RM730 million package for sport is less generous than it first appears.
What the budget gave sport
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday 9 October. The sport package totals RM730 million, made up of three parts:
- RM460 million for national sports development, covering high-performance sport, the Road to Gold programme, para and deaf athletes, and maintenance of sports facilities.
- RM240 million to prepare for hosting the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
- RM30 million for the Sports Matching Grant, which helps associations, clubs and NGOs stage high-performance events.
Separately, RM27 million was allocated for school sports, a 50 per cent increase. Some reports appear to add this to the headline figure, which would explain why a total of RM757 million (RM730 million plus RM27 million) also appears in coverage.
BAM targets the next generation
BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the association will study how to use the matching grant with state associations and corporate partners to organise more quality tournaments at home. The aim is to give younger players regular matches against stronger opponents before they are sent overseas.
He was frank about the risk of relying on a few established names, saying a ready replacement must exist "when a champion retires". He also welcomed the extra money for school sport but said a clear pathway is needed so that talent spotted in schools is not lost, and confirmed that preparing for the 2027 SEA Games remains a priority.
Analysts: much of it is SEA Games money
Not everyone sees the package as a big step up. UiTM sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli told Bernama the RM730 million should not be read as a major increase, as a large slice is tied to the SEA Games and allocations would likely return to normal levels afterwards. He said the RM460 million is important for keeping athletes on course for Malaysia's first Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028, but called for multi-year funding plans rather than annual budgets.
Fellow UiTM analyst Sadek Mustaffa went further, describing the allocations as too small for Olympic or sporting-powerhouse ambitions. He said athletics and swimming have been held back by funding constraints, and urged wider investment in sports such as canoeing, judo, fencing and gymnastics. For comparison, the government allocated RM450 million for the same two Games when Malaysia last hosted the SEA Games in 2017.
Ministry and NSC upbeat
The Youth and Sports Ministry welcomed the RM460 million as key to building the athlete development system. National Sports Council director-general Jefri Ngadirin called the budget very positive at school, community and elite level, said the RM240 million would help home athletes perform at the Games, and estimated the school sports money could reach more than 4.6 million students in around 10,000 schools.
The SEA Games will be held from 18 to 29 September 2027 across Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Johor and Penang, with the ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur from 17 to 23 October 2027.
Key takeaways
- Budget 2027 allocates RM730 million for sport: RM460 million for development, RM240 million for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, and RM30 million for the Sports Matching Grant.
- A separate RM27 million for school sports explains why some reports cite RM757 million.
- BAM plans to use the matching grant to stage more home tournaments for back-up players.
- Analysts Pekan Ramli and Sadek Mustaffa say much of the money is tied to the SEA Games and falls short of Olympic ambitions.
- The 2017 allocation for the same two Games was RM450 million.
FAQ
How much did Budget 2027 allocate for sport? RM730 million: RM460 million for sports development, RM240 million for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, and RM30 million for the Sports Matching Grant. A further RM27 million goes to school sports.
What is the Sports Matching Grant? A RM30 million fund that helps sports associations, clubs and NGOs organise high-performance events. It is open to many sports, not just badminton.
When are the 2027 SEA Games? From 18 to 29 September 2027 in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Johor and Penang.
Sources: Bernama, Scoop, New Straits Times, The Sun