Budget 2027 on Friday: Paralympic Council seeks RM15 million as KBS targets grassroots and athlete welfare

Malaysia's sports community has its wish list ready as Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim prepares to table Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat this Friday, 9 October. The presentation has been brought forward to 3.30pm Malaysia time, half an hour earlier than usual, Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor told the House.

The latest request comes from the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), which on 6 October asked for RM15 million to fund para sports development, less than two weeks before the national para contingent flies to Japan for the Asian Para Games.

Para sports want RM15 million

PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin said the money is needed for long-term grassroots work and to keep national para associations running, including some that do not even have their own offices. He argued that steady funding would help the country find and develop athletes who can compete internationally.

The timing is pointed. Malaysia's para athletes, led by chef de mission Tan Chee Keong, are aiming for six gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, which run from 18 to 24 October. PCM has also lined up a sponsor-backed incentive with Zero Healthcare, offering RM2,000 for a gold medal, a RM2,000 voucher for silver and a RM1,000 voucher for bronze.

What the ministry has asked for

The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) submitted its initial Budget 2027 framework to the Finance Ministry in early September. Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the three priorities are grassroots sports development, youth participation, and athlete welfare, including support for retired athletes. The proposal was shaped by feedback gathered during a Madani youth budget tour across six zones.

Anwar has also signalled a special allocation for young people, though his public remarks so far have focused on university students and the cost of education rather than sport specifically.

Community sport asks for faster money, not just more

Grassroots groups want changes in how funds are paid out. The Malaysian Recreational Sports Association (REKREASI) noted that Budget 2026 set aside RM20 million for the Community Sports Fund (Dana Sukan Komuniti) within an overall sports development allocation of RM584.9 million. According to the association, the fund received 11,650 applications between 2023 and 2026, approved 6,639 and paid out RM80.4 million.

REKREASI's three asks are quicker disbursement, fewer reimbursement hurdles that squeeze small NGOs' cash flow, and paid personnel to coordinate community programmes. It cited its K2K Juara programme, which reached 10 public housing (PPR) communities in 2024 but could only return to two communities in 2026 because of tight funding.

Why this budget matters for sport

The tabling comes days after Malaysia matched its best Asian Games haul with nine gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya, and the country now has the 2027 SEA Games to host and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to plan for. The National Sports Council has described the Asian Games result as a sign the high-performance programme is on track, but sustaining it, while also widening participation at the grassroots, needs predictable funding.

Fans will also be watching for any follow-up on events. Taufiq said this week that cost-cutting kept Langkawi off the 2026 Le Tour de Langkawi route, and that the island could return in 2027 if money allows.

What happens after Friday

After Anwar presents the Supply Bill 2027, policy-level debate is scheduled for 12 to 22 October, followed by ministers' replies and committee-stage scrutiny of each ministry's allocation, including KBS.

Key takeaways

• Budget 2027 will be tabled on Friday, 9 October, at 3.30pm Malaysia time.
• The Paralympic Council of Malaysia has asked for RM15 million for para sports development.
• KBS is prioritising grassroots sport, youth participation and athlete welfare, including retired athletes.
• REKREASI wants faster, simpler community sports funding after the Community Sports Fund received 11,650 applications since 2023.
• Debate on the Supply Bill runs from 12 to 22 October.

FAQ

When and where can I follow the Budget 2027 speech? Anwar Ibrahim presents it in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday, 9 October, starting at 3.30pm Malaysia time.

How much did sport get in Budget 2026? According to REKREASI, the overall sports development allocation was RM584.9 million, including RM20 million for the Community Sports Fund.

When are the Asian Para Games? The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games run from 18 to 24 October, with Malaysia targeting six gold medals.

Sources: Bernama, Pocket News, Malay Mail, theSun, The Edge Malaysia