Malaysian expert doubts SEA Plus

A well-respected Malaysian academician and sports analyst raised doubts over the proposed Southeast Asian (SEA) Plus, a multi-sport tournament where countries from Oceania and other parts of Asia will be invited to see action.

Datuk Dr. Pekan Ramli, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Kuala Lumpur, told New Straits Times that the SEA Plus, which was recently floated by the president of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, could do more harm than good as it will only destroy the morale of Southeast Asian athletes.

According to the proposal of the Komite Olimpiade Indonesia president Raja Sapta Oktohari, there should be another regional meet, where countries from Oceania like Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and some parts of Asia, should be invited to increase the level of play in the biennial Southeast Asian Games.

If ever the plan materializes, the tournament will be branded as SEA Plus and will be inaugurated in 2028 in the Philippines — a year after Malaysia organizes the 34th edition of the SEA Games.

“We are now in contact with several countries to begin expanding the SEA Games,” Oktohari said in a report by Vietnamese newspaper VNExpress late last month.

"In addition to the 11 Southeast Asian nations, Bhutan and several Oceania countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Fiji could take part." 

On the same note, the Philippines, through Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, expressed readiness to host the SEA Plus as well as the SEA Plus Youth Games, which feature athletes 17 years and below, in 2028.

But the idea was shot down before it could even fly.

Pekan said instead of introducing a parallel concept involving non-Southeast Asian countries, they should just stabilize the SEA Games by crafting guidelines that will prioritize Olympic sports over traditional and demonstration events.

"We aren't rejecting it, but what exactly is the objective?" said Pekan, an expert in Sports Media Studies and sports management.

"If the idea is simply to make the Games bigger without a clear development purpose, then what is the point? It only creates confusion."                    

Pekan said the region had spent years debating how to strengthen the SEA Games and had finally reached consensus on reforms aimed at elevating competitiveness while preserving the event's identity.

"We should focus on fixing the SEA Games that we already have," he said.

"We agreed on reforms, Olympic sports, proper structure, and better governance. Now, suddenly, there's a proposal for a new version of the Games. We need clarity before talking about expansion."

Pekan acknowledged arguments that exposure to stronger nations such as Australia or New Zealand could raise standards, but said Asean must first assess its overall readiness.

"Some Southeast Asian nations are still struggling to fund teams or host the existing SEA Games," he said.

"If we bring in wealthier and much stronger sporting nations too soon, the competitive gap widens. We don't want an event dominated by just two or three countries."

He stressed that no single nation should dictate the direction of the region's flagship sporting event.

"The SEA Games belong to all 11 countries. Indonesia can propose, but the region must decide together. Any change that affects the character of the Games must go through proper Asean channels."

Pekan added that Malaysia must prioritize the delivery of a credible SEA Games at home under the newly agreed structure before considering any expanded concept.

After all, in the most recent SEA Games in Thailand, many venues were sparsely attended, raising concerns that the event is slowly losing its sparkle and appeal.