MALAYSIA TO HOST 5TH ASEAN PARA GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is confirmed to host the 5th
Asean Para Games taking over from Laos thus ending speculation it would do so.

This was affirmed by Malaysian Paralympics Council president, Zainal
Abu Zarin, who is also president of the Asean Para Sports Federation (APSF).

"The games were to be hosted by Laos as hosts of the 25th SEA Games in
December but Laos declined eventhough we made appeals," he told Bernama here
Sunday.

Zainal said Laos said it did not have the proper facilities or funds for the
disabled peoples' games.

"To preserve the tradition of having the games we asked the Malaysian
government to ensure that the games were held every two years," he said, adding
that Malaysia was among 'founders' of the regional meet.

He said the date and number of events for the meet would be announced by
Youth and Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a function slated
for Tuesday.

The first Asean Para Games were hosted in 2001 by Malaysia, followed by
Vietnam (2003), the Philippines (2005) and Thailand (2008).

The games are held after the Sea Games every two years.

-- BERNAMA