Terengganu pays RM1.56 million to 203 SUKMA and Para SUKMA athletes, targets top two in Kelantan 2028
Terengganu raised its SUKMA rewards to RM5,000 per gold and paid RM1.56 million to 203 athletes, after finishing third in 2026 with 43 golds.
Terengganu has paid out RM1.56 million in cash incentives to 203 athletes for their performances at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and Para SUKMA, after raising its rewards to RM5,000 for every gold medal. The payments were handed over at an appreciation ceremony in Kuala Nerus on 6 October, attended by State Secretary Datuk Mohd Azmi Mohamad Daham.
The state also used the occasion to set its sights higher, saying it wants to finish second or even win the overall title when Kelantan hosts SUKMA in 2028.
Higher rates for every medal
Under the new rates, Terengganu athletes received RM5,000 for a gold medal, RM3,000 for silver and RM1,500 for bronze, applying to both SUKMA and Para SUKMA. That is a clear step up from 2022, when the state paid RM3,500 for gold, RM2,500 for silver and RM1,500 for bronze, according to Sinar Harian's report at the time.
Separately, RM117,200 was distributed to 34 Terengganu athletes through the SWARA and SHAKE schemes for representing Malaysia at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Third place on gold medals, up from fifth
Terengganu finished third in the SUKMA 2026 medal table, hosted by Selangor and closed on 24 August, with 43 gold, 44 silver and 36 bronze medals for 123 in total. That was an improvement on fifth place at SUKMA 2024 in Sarawak.
Selangor topped the table with 101 golds, the host state's 10th overall SUKMA title, while the Federal Territories came second with 51 golds. Terengganu's third place came on gold medals: Sarawak (143 medals) and Penang (156 medals) both won more medals in total but fewer golds.
At Para SUKMA, Terengganu's athletes collected 37 medals, made up of seven golds, 11 silvers and 19 bronzes, which Bernama's Malay-language report placed 10th overall.
Target: top two in Kelantan
State Youth, Sports and NGO Committee chairman Hishamuddin Abdul Karim said the contingent had met its goal of a top-three finish this year. He said the next aim is to improve further and challenge for second place or the overall crown at SUKMA 2028 in Kelantan.
That would mean closing a big gap. Selangor won more than double Terengganu's gold total this year, although the east coast state has finished as high as runners-up before, at SUKMA 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
Why state incentives matter
SUKMA is Malaysia's main multi-sport event for young athletes and has long served as a pathway into national squads. State cash rewards are one of the few direct financial returns many of these teenagers and young adults receive, and they also help states keep talent from moving elsewhere.
The handover comes in a week when sports funding is in the spotlight nationally. Budget 2027 is tabled on Friday, and the Youth and Sports Minister said in Parliament this week that the Para SUKMA age range of 12 to 40 will be reviewed by the SUKMA Supreme Committee later this year.
Key takeaways
- 203 Terengganu athletes shared RM1.56 million in SUKMA and Para SUKMA incentives on 6 October.
- Rates rose to RM5,000 for gold, RM3,000 for silver and RM1,500 for bronze.
- Terengganu finished third at SUKMA 2026 with 43 golds, up from fifth in 2024.
- Another RM117,200 went to 34 athletes who represented Malaysia at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
- The state is targeting second place or the overall title at SUKMA 2028 in Kelantan.
FAQ
How much did a Terengganu SUKMA gold medallist receive? RM5,000 per gold medal, with RM3,000 for silver and RM1,500 for bronze, under the state's increased rates.
Who won SUKMA 2026? Host state Selangor, with 101 gold medals. The Federal Territories were second and Terengganu third.
Where is the next SUKMA? Kelantan is due to host SUKMA in 2028, where Terengganu aims to finish in the top two.
Sources: Bernama, theSun, Sinar Harian