Haze forces postponement of National Sports Day 2026 launch at Bukit Jalil and celebrations in seven states
KBS has postponed the national-level Hari Sukan Negara celebration planned for Bukit Jalil on Oct 10 because of haze. Events in seven states are also off.
The national celebration of National Sports Day (Hari Sukan Negara, HSN) 2026, planned for Bukit Jalil today (Saturday, Oct 10), has been postponed because of the haze affecting much of Peninsular Malaysia. The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) announced the decision in a statement on Friday (Oct 9). It said a new date will be announced once air quality is safe enough for outdoor activities.
Which events are off and which will go ahead
Besides the national event at Bukit Jalil, HSN celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka have been postponed.
According to the ministry, celebrations in Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan were going ahead as planned when the statement was issued. KBS said state-level and local events depend on local conditions and on decisions by the relevant authorities, so people should check with their state organisers before going. Sarawak had already planned its own celebration for Oct 16 to 18.
Why the ministry postponed the event
KBS said the decision followed detailed discussions with the relevant government agencies about the risks of holding a large outdoor event in the current conditions. It described the postponement as a precaution to protect the health of participants, organisers and the public. The ministry said the decision was made on the advice of, and with the agreement of, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari. It also thanked Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for his concern about the haze.
The ministry asked Malaysians to cut down on outdoor activities for now and to follow advice from the Health Ministry and the Department of Environment. The KBS statement ended with an apology for the inconvenience.
Earlier in the week, the director-general of the National Youth and Sports Department, Azura Abidin, told RTM that KBS was monitoring the Air Pollutant Index (API) and had a backup plan ready in case the haze did not clear.
How bad the haze has been
Air quality has been poor across several states this week. On the morning of Wednesday (Oct 7), unhealthy API readings were recorded in 35 areas, and Batu Pahat in Johor had the highest reading. Schools in Batu Pahat had been closed earlier because of the haze. Education authorities have told schools to stop outdoor activities wherever the API goes above 100.
What HSN 2026 was meant to include
HSN 2026 was planned as a three-day nationwide event from Oct 9 to 11. The official launch at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil was scheduled for Oct 10. Organisers had hoped more than 5.3 million Malaysians would take part. This year's theme is digital technology and artificial intelligence. The programme included the Larian Ria MADANI fun run, the Berjalan Ria MADANI walk, a Malaysia Aktif segment, a sports industry expo, Rakan Muda activities, a virtual taekwondo demonstration and esports.
National Sports Day is held every year to get Malaysians to exercise more. The minister has said the programme helps prevent non-communicable diseases.
Key takeaways
- The national HSN 2026 celebration at Bukit Jalil, set for Saturday (Oct 10), has been postponed because of haze. A new date will be announced later.
- Celebrations in KL, Selangor, Johor, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka are also postponed.
- Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan were going ahead as planned, depending on local conditions.
- KBS has asked the public to limit outdoor activities and follow Health Ministry and Department of Environment advice.
FAQ
Is National Sports Day 2026 cancelled? No. The national event at Bukit Jalil has been postponed, not cancelled. KBS will announce a new date once air quality is safe for outdoor activities.
Which states are still holding HSN events? When KBS issued its statement, events in Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan were going ahead, depending on local conditions.
Who decided to postpone the event? The Youth and Sports Ministry decided after consulting government agencies, on the advice of and with the agreement of minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
Sources: Bernama, Utusan Malaysia, RTM, The Star, Malay Mail