Indonesia has raised the possibility of boycotting the 2027 Southeast Asian Games and demanding structural reforms to the regional sports federation following sweeping cuts to traditional medal events by host nation Malaysia.
The controversy centers on an athletic program approved by the Southeast Asian Games Federation Executive Committee on October 30, 2026, which trimmed the schedule down to 43 sports and 473 events. That total represents a reduction of approximately seven sports and 100 medal events compared to the previous Games held in Thailand in 2025.
Krisna Bayu, president of the Sambo Federation and an executive committee member of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, told Antara on November 9 that Jakarta must take a firm stance against the host nation. He argued that the unilateral roster reductions directly harm the rights of regional athletes and undermine the future of competitive sport across Southeast Asia.
Among the disciplines omitted from the 2027 itinerary are rowing, canoeing, traditional boat races, wrestling, chess, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, sport climbing, triathlon, beach volley, and team badminton events for both men and women.
The Indonesian Rowing Federation, known as PODSI, pointed out that its athletes captured nine gold medals out of a 25-medal haul at the 2025 Games. PODSI officials stated that the elimination robs competitors of a chance to defend their titles and disrupts long-term training pipelines.
PODSI accused Malaysia of breaking an earlier regional compact. According to the rowing body, a SEAGF meeting on May 31, 2024, had approved a structured program covering three editions from 2025 through 2029, which explicitly included rowing. PODSI subsequently requested that the Indonesian sports administration file an official written protest demanding a complete review.
Similar damage is evident across other disciplines. Triathlon and related multisport events yielded seven gold medals for Indonesia in 2025, while sport climbing contributed four gold medals across six events at the most recent Games.
The Indonesian Mountaineering Federation emphasized that the SEA Games serve as a critical stepping stone for young talent, noting that its recent lead climbing champions were under 17 years old and speed climbing winners were under 19. Losing this competition means an entire young generation loses the opportunity to gain international experience.
Raja Sapta Oktohari, president of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, stated in an official release reported by CNN Indonesia on Wednesday, November 4, that event scheduling must balance the interests of all member nations rather than serving only the host’s preferences.
He stressed that these alterations impact athletic development across the region, stating: Penyusunan cabang olahraga dan nomor pertandingan idealnya mempertimbangkan kepentingan seluruh negara anggota. Bukan hanya aspek penyelenggaraan tuan rumah
and Kami ingin SEA Games tetap menjadi ajang yang mendorong peningkatan kualitas olahraga di Asia Tenggara
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While numerous traditional sports disappeared from the schedule, bowling saw its medal offerings expand dramatically from six to 22 sets of medals. BowlingLife reported that organizers divided certain competitions across three distinct oil-patterned lane surfaces, with Malaysian bowling authorities describing the move as an experiment to widen competitive opportunities.
The host nation defended the finalized lineup. Nur Azmi Ahmad, vice president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, confirmed following the October 30 meeting that participating countries raised no immediate objections during the proceedings, according to the newspaper Utusan. He maintained that the program is definitive and that time constraints make further additions impossible.
The 2027 SEA Games are scheduled to run from September 18 to 29 across four designated Malaysian locations: Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, and Johor.
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