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KL out to deliver a SEA Games as good as Singapore’s

KUALA LUMPUR — It was 10.30am and TODAY had just spotted Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stepping into his office at the top level of his ministry’s building in Putrajaya. Wearing a cobalt blue shirt, its sleeves rolled up, and kale green pants, he didn’t get very far though — because almost immediately, he was accosted by a staff about a SEA Games-related issue.

Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

KUALA LUMPUR — It was 10.30am and TODAY had just spotted Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stepping into his office at the top level of his ministry’s building in Putrajaya. Wearing a cobalt blue shirt, its sleeves rolled up, and kale green pants, he didn’t get very far though — because almost immediately, he was accosted by a staff about a SEA Games-related issue.

Yet, with laser-like focus, Mr Khairy did not break stride as he spoke with his staff while walking purposefully towards his work room.

And by the time he reached his work room, the staff had been dispatched with a list of new instructions and things to do.

It’s been like this for the past two years. Ever since Singapore handed the SEA Games flag to Malaysia at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Games, Mr Khairy and his team have been working round the clock to deliver a Games that will be as successful as the 2015 edition.

Given the two neighbouring countries’ traditional rivalry, it is understandable why Malaysia is pulling out all the stops within its RM450 million (S$142 million) budget to do so, despite it being less than thethe S$264 million that the Singapore Games had cost.

“Singapore definitely raised the bar,” Mr Khairy said with a smile duing our one-on-one interview before adding: “We hope to be able to provide as good an experience this year.

“We want it to be well organised, have the sports be presented well, for the venues to be of world-class standards, and overall, for all involved in this Games to walk away with a good experience … and to have a great summer of sport.

“I think we’ve prepared as best as possible to provide for a great time for everybody — athletes, officials, as well as sports fans and spectators.”

Indeed, the 41-year-old, who also chairs his country’s SEA Games organising committee, personally paid close attention to how Singapore ran the 2015 Games.

His observations, coupled with Singapore’s co-operation in “sharing their knowledge of organising the Games,” led to several valuable lessons being learnt for the KL Games.

“We will combine sports with entertainment, where you have great music, lights presentation, deejays and emcees hyping up the crowd,” said Mr Khairy, now seated in an armchair in his white-themed office, a bookcase packed with books covering a variety of subjects from politics to business to sports, providing the backdrop.

“We want to make sure it’s not just what you see, but to give you a 360-degree, three-dimensional, multi-sensory experience of the Games.”

One of the key highlights, for him, was how Singapore delivered a digital Games. “So we’ve taken a leaf from that and developed (mobile) applications for the Games. We’re utilising various social media platforms, and we have a Youtube channel,” he said.

“In addition, this year’s Games will broadcast the most number of ‘live’ events, both on the big screen and on mobile devices.”

However, unlike the previous two Games, Malaysia will not be staging the sporting events at newly-constructed venues. The 2015 Games and the 2013 Myanmar edition were largely held at the Singapore Sports Hub and the twin sports complexes — Wunna Theikdi and Zeyar Thiri — in Naypyidaw respectively. Kuala Lumpur has opted instead to refurbish its existing sports facilities.

It looks a wise move. When TODAY visited the Kuala Lumpur Sports City — formerly known as Bukit Jalil Sports Complex — last month, the multi-sport facility, which first opened in 1998 and has so far cost S$158 million to refurbish, was still under renovation but the transformation was already apparent.

For example, new seats have been installed at the 85,000-capacity national stadium.

They have also painted them yellow, black and silver — the colours of the Malaysian football team — to give the illusion of a crowded venue.

Huge high-definition display screens have also been installed at both ends of the stadium.

The National Aquatic Centre now boasts a new shaded fabric roof that allows for more daylight and ventilation into the building. A FINA-compliant diving tower was also recently installed while the lighting and sound systems have been upgraded. The adjacent Axiata Arena — the venue for the Games’ badminton competition — has upgraded its facilities and seats.

In fact, the revamped sports complex has even been nominated for an award at this November’s World Architecture Festival.

“For the Games in Myanmar 2013 and Singapore in 2015, the hosts had (the use) of brand new facilities,” he said. “For the KL Games, we’ve just renovated our existing facilities, but I’m happy enough with that.

“It may not be new, but it’s been brought to life again through our refurbishing efforts.

The way the Singapore SEA Games acted as a lead-up to the SG50 celebrations was something that Mr Khairy’s team had learnt as well.

He said: “We’re marking 60 years of Merdeka (independence) this year. So we’ve obviously learnt from how Singapore folded the SEA Games into a celebration of 50 years of nationhood, and we’ll do likewise by tying in our Merdeka festivities with that of the KL Games.”

Indeed, Malaysia would consider making a bid to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games in future, if the KL Games proved to be a success, he added.

The only other time Malaysia staged the Commonwealth Games was in 1998. Two months ago, a three-man Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) delegation assessed Kuala Lumpur’s suitability as a host for the Games, and gave it the thumbs up.

However, Malaysia also needs to make some financial considerations, said Mr Khairy. “Yes, I know the Malaysian Olympic Council are interested but whether we make a bid is first subject to the government doing a feasibility study to see whether it makes budgetary sense for us.

“We’d also like to host bigger Games here… the Asian Games is something we’ve never had, and it’s something that in the longer term, we’d be interested in.”

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