Megat: “Pushing the paralympic movement to the forefront of nation’s sporting agenda”
KUALA LUMPUR, 7th October 2020: The organization of the Para SUKMA XX as the prelude to the SUKMA XX has provided a timely boost to the Malaysian paralympic sporting community.
With no paralympic competitions this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) has hailed the SUKMA XX Supreme Committee’s
move to organize the Para SUKMA XX from the 8-13 March 2021 to be followed by the SUKMA XX on the 2-10 April 2021.
Hailing the move as unprecedented, the President of MPC, Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharuddin believes that this move will push the paralympic movement to the forefront of the nation’s sporting agenda.
“It’s an honour for the Paralympic community to act as a curtain raiser for the SUKMA XX in Johor. This move is unprecedented and augurs well for the paralympic movement in our country.
“Previously the Para SUKMA was held after the closing of SUKMA in accordance with the convention of other major international games, for instance, the Paralympics and Asian Para Games.
“This move will hopefully ignite the sporting flame in our country and will generate the passion and excitement of the fans for the event preceding it, SUKMA XX,” said Megat when contacted.
Prior to the postponement, Para SUKMA was initially scheduled on the 16-22 August after the organization of SUKMA on the 11-19 July.
In the 2018 edition in Perak, the Sarawak contingent emerged as the overall champions for the 13th time in a row, with Sabah as runners up and hosts in third.
Meanwhile, Megat has high hopes that the high level of competition in the Para SUKMA will help prepare the nation’s athletes for the Para ASEAN 2021 in Vietnam.
“The postponement of the Asean Para 2019 in Philippines due to a lack of funds and the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works of the preparations of the national para athletes.
“Therefore we believe that the Para SUKMA will provide a much needed competitive environment to help prepare the athletes for the Asean Para Games in Vietnam, added Megat.
