Silambam: Recognise and include them, Selangor

Three Selangor backbenchers have urged the state government to recognise silambam and include it SUKMA 2026.

Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing), Preakas Sampunathan (Kota Kemuning), and Gunaraj George (Sentosa) urged Selangor Menteri Besar and state exco to reconsider its current stance on silambam in SUKMA.

“Including Silambam in SUKMA would not only honour Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage but also inspire young athletes, promote unity, and showcase the rich sporting talents that exist across the state,” the trio said in a statement.

“We believe Silambam’s inclusion will further strengthen the spirit of inclusion and sporting excellence that defines Selangor’s sports community,” they added.

Rajiv had previously taken Melaka state exco and SUKMA supreme council representative Datuk VP Shanmugam to task for being absent when the decision to drop the sport was taken.

Rajiv and Preakas are from the DAP whereas Gunaraj is from PKR.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, two days ago had said that silambam was dropped because it was not a sport competed at international level.

In a related development Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said he would be raising the matter in the Cabinet meeting.