Sports integrity conference on Sept 28-30 prepares for SEA Games

KUCHING: Some 400 to 500 delegates are expected to attend the Sarawak National Sports Integrity Conference (SNSIC) 2026, which aims to strengthen integrity and governance in the sports sector ahead of Sarawak co-hosting the SEA Games next year.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the three-day conference would be held from September 28 to 30 at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here.

He said SNSIC 2026, themed ‘Strengthening System, Safeguarding Spirit, Increasing Global Standards for Sports Integrity’, is organised in close partnership with the State Department of Youth and Sports, Sarawak Sports Corporation, National Sports Council of Malaysia, and the Sarawak Sports Commissioner’s Office.

“The first day will be a high-level conference featuring 400 to 500 delegates. The highlights include a keynote address by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a representation by the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia, and panel discussions featuring experts from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Asian Football Confederation,” he told a press conference on the event at Baitulmakmur Building II here today.

He said the second and third days would feature specialised technical workshops involving about 100 targeted participants, including public officers involved in procurement, legal and enforcement personnel, and sports association administrators from across Malaysia.

The workshops would provide practical sessions on scrutinising public procurement, detecting illegal betting activities, and managing match-fixing cases.

Abdul Karim said the conference is timely as Sarawak would co-host the SEA Games with the federal government next year, with the State also hosting the opening ceremony and a significant number of sporting events.

He said sports has become more than a platform for competition, with major events also contributing to tourism, infrastructure development, economic activity and national unity.

“However, hosting prestigious large-scale sports events often involves high-value procurement, substantial financial expenses, and multi-agency coordination. Without robust control and a solid integrity system, the sports ecosystem faces severe threats such as corruption, match-fixing, illegal betting, substance abuse, and governance non-compliance,” he said.

Abdul Karim said Sarawak wanted to demonstrate that it could not only provide quality facilities and event management but also uphold high standards of governance and integrity.

“We want to show to the world that apart from being a good host and making sure that the athletes participate in a sporting way, we also want to make sure also that everything is in order,” he said.

He added that anti-doping teams would be present at major sporting events hosted in Sarawak, including the upcoming SEA Games.

“During the last SUKMA that we hosted in Sarawak, not even a single case of doping was identified. We are very, very proud of that,” he said.

Abdul Karim said SNSIC 2026 is intended to go beyond being a one-off conference by promoting integrity as a culture and practice across the sports ecosystem.

“Our aspiration for SNSIC 2026 is not just to be a conference. It should serve as a catalyst for cultural transformation, from integrity as a slogan to integrity as a practice, from compliance to a culture of integrity, and from awareness to action,” he stressed.