Indonesia-Malaysia to Elevate Sports Achievements as Regional Strength

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir met with his Malaysian counterpart, Muhammed Taufiq Johari, to discuss ways of advancing the sporting achievements of both nations and positioning Southeast Asia as a stronger force on the global stage.

“We share the same spirit; we want to elevate sports performance in each of our countries so that Southeast Asia becomes a power in the world arena,” Minister Erick said in an official statement released in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

One key milestone in this effort will be the 2027 SEA Games, where Malaysia will serve as host. Minister Erick noted that Malaysia will naturally aim for the overall championship, while Indonesia is expected to face tough competition from the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam in the race for second place.

“We must acknowledge that next year’s SEA Games will be highly competitive. But this will not discourage us. We will begin preparing our athletes thoroughly starting this year,” he emphasized.

The minister stressed the importance of showcasing the region’s best athletes to maintain the event’s appeal and boost audience engagement.

“I told him that we must encourage our top athletes to compete. The more spectators we attract, the more viral it becomes. Let’s show the world the greatness of Southeast Asian athletes,” Minister Erick said.

Beyond competition, the two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in sports development and youth character building. Minister Erick also raised the issue of athlete welfare, highlighting Malaysia’s existing pension fund program for retired athletes and exploring how Indonesia might adopt similar measures.

The talks were described as smooth and productive. Minister Erick added that Minister Taufiq has close ties to Indonesia, having studied in the country seven years ago and married an Indonesian woman.

“He understands the passion Indonesians have for sports, which made our discussion flow naturally and lead to concrete agreements,” Minister Erick concluded. ***