Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid says the proposal to include karate in the MSSM championships will be discussed with the education minister.
THE proposal to include karate as one of the sports contested at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) championships will be brought to the Cabinet next week, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development, said the matter would be raised with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek for consideration.
“We will bring the matter to the Cabinet meeting and ask the Education Minister to consider including karate in the MSSM championships,” he told reporters after officiating the International Open Karate Championship 2026 at Titiwangsa Stadium here today.
The tournament, now in its 25th edition, has attracted more than 1,850 participants from 17 countries.
Earlier, Putrajaya Karate Association president Datuk P. Thiagu, who is also the tournament organiser, called for karate to be included in the MSSM competition calendar to strengthen the sport’s grassroots development.
“This is part of our effort to have karate included in the MSSM calendar. Karate has become a popular sport in schools, and its inclusion would enable us to produce more talented athletes.
“We hope it can be implemented in the near future,” he said.
