Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said his ministry has received no official statement from Indonesia about a boycott of the 2027 SEA Games, amid reports that Indonesia is unhappy several of its favoured sports were left off the programme.

He was speaking at a media conference after launching the official website of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil on 10 November.

The New Straits Times reported that a national sports association from Indonesia had suggested a boycott, and that the idea had caught on online.

Sport climbing, rowing, beach volleyball, wrestling, chess, ju-jitsu, kickboxing and handball are among the sports reported to have been left out.

Dr Mohammed Taufiq said he respected the views expressed by netizens and others, but that without an official statement, he regarded the boycott talk as netizens talking, the NST reported.

“This is actually not the first time these sports have not been held. If we look back, there have also been hosts who did not organise certain events,” he said.

He said the choice of sports had gone through several rounds of discussion within the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) before it was approved.

“So all of this went through the set process, and it has been agreed by the SEAGF and also agreed by everyone. So I feel this matter no longer arises,” he said.

The SEAGF executive committee approved 473 events in 43 sports on 30 October. According to the NST, the list is final and there is no further room for appeals.

On 10 November, ToughASIA reported that NOC Indonesia executive committee member Krisna Bayu had asked whether a boycott should be an option. iNews noted that this was not an official Indonesian decision.

The minister pointed to the theme of the Games, Celebrating Unity.

“We want to celebrate unity. This is a family event, the ASEAN family,” he said.

“I am confident and believe that every country has its own wisdom to ensure that unity in ASEAN is maintained and strengthened.”

The SEA Games will be held from 18 to 29 September 2027, and the ASEAN Para Games from 17 to 23 October 2027. The new website, seagamesmalaysia2027.org, is designed to show competition results and medal tallies in real time, Bernama reported.