Hanoi (AFP) - "All Malaysians are disappointed" at what looks set to be the country's lowest placing at the SEA Games in nearly 40 years, a government minister says.
Sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu sounded the alarm despite Malaysian athletes reaching the country's target of 36 golds in Hanoi.
The country grabbed a 37th gold on Saturday with Mohamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff in the cycling men's road race.
But Malaysia languished sixth in the medals table as of Saturday night, with hosts Vietnam way out in front with 180 golds, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore in a tie at 47 with the Philippines.
"All Malaysians are disappointed because we are not at a higher position," Ahmad said at the Games on Friday, according to state news agency Bernama.
"We should not be contented with our sixth position at the Games."
Malaysia is usually in the regional top five and the last time it settled for sixth was in 1983, when only eight nations took part, compared to the current 11.
It comes with Malaysia set to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in July-August, while the Asian Games later this year in China have been indefinitely postponed.
"The exposure gained at the SEA Games is crucial for us to achieve more success in other multi-sport Games like the Commonwealth Games and Asiad," said Ahmad.
The Malaysian government slashed sports spending last year to 289 million ringgit ($67 million) from 940 million ringgit the year before.
It also cut down its full-time number of athletes from 432 to 288, months after a poor Tokyo Olympics showing of one silver and one bronze.
Malaysia made a strong start at the SEA Games, winning all eight golds in diving, with the rest of the medals scattered across other sports.
With one day of competition left on Sunday, Malaysia's remaining medal hopes appear to be in badminton, one of the few sports it does well in internationally.
It will definitely win gold and silver in the mixed doubles after Malaysian pairs both won their semi-finals.
Also in badminton, the men's singles final will be between Singapore's Loh Kean Yew, the reigning world champion, and Thailand’s 18th-ranked Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
The women's final is an all-Thai clash between Pornpawee Chochuwong and Phittayaporn Chaiwan.
In the women's football gold-medal showdown, hosts Vietnam narrowly defeated fierce rivals Thailand 1-0 thanks to a goal by captain Huynh Nhu.
The men's football final will take place Sunday night at the My Dinh National Stadium between the same two countries.
