PAS Youth leader’s claim over Sukma 2024 misunderstood, says Kelantan exco

State exco member Wan Roslan Wan Hamat downplays statement accusing youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh of ‘abusing her authority’.

KOTA BHARU: A Kelantan government official says a statement made by a PAS Youth leader on the state being denied the chance to host the 2024 Sukma (Malaysia Games) had been misunderstood.

State youth development, sports and NGO committee chairman Wan Roslan Wan Hamat was referring to Kamal Mohamed’s statement yesterday, accusing youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh of abusing her authority to deny Kelantan the opportunity to host the national sports meet next year.

“The statement issued by him was just to show that young people are very excited that Sukma is to be held in Kelantan.

“Kamal may have been worried that Sukma may not be held in Kelantan because other states have already hosted it twice.

“So, I don’t think there is a problem. If there is a mistake, the PAS Youth leader’s statement should be corrected,” Bernama reported him as saying.

He was asked to comment on Yeoh’s reaction to the accusation by Kamal, including her plan to lodge a police report on the matter.

Yeoh said Kamal’s allegations were defamatory as the state government’s representative, Wan Roslan, had agreed for Kelantan to host Sukma in 2028 instead of next year.

She had announced on Thursday that Sarawak will host the 2024 Sukma while Kelantan will host the national meet in 2028. The 2026 edition of the games will be organised by the National Sports Council, she added.

On this, Wan Roslan said Kelantan agreed to accept the responsibility of hosting the 2028 edition to give them a longer period to prepare, admitting that it had not objected to the decision.

“The decision was made on Thursday that Kelantan will host Sukma in 2028, but the details of the meeting cannot be disclosed.

“The reason why our turn to be hosts is being delayed must be referred to the minister herself. However, preparations to host Sukma 2028 will continue,” he said.