MALAYSIA, the second placer in the Southeast Asian Games two years ago, will not be sending its best athletes to the biennial meet when it is held in Laos at the end of the year.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the sports minister of Malaysia, bared in an article published by The Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur that the regional sports competition ?will no longer be a priority for the country.?

The absence of Olympic events like gymnastics and hockey, and the reduction of competitions to be staged to 22 disciplines and 390 events has compelled Malaysian authorities to shift their priorities elsewhere.

?What is the use of concentrating on the SEA Games when it does not offer popular sports which are in the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games,? revealed Datuk Seri Ismail in a statement.

Any member-country, which hosts the SEA Games, always had a big say in the number and type of sports featured in each edition.

The sports minister also cited the lack of facilities, equipment or technical expertise in Laos.

?Malaysia has already lost some 34 golds as the country?s traditional gold prospects, such as tenpin bowling and squash, have been sidelined,? said the official.< br> Malaysia is reportedly planning to send second-stringers to Laos, but this is still under discussion with the National Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

Sports officials in Malaysia are also reportedly upset with the cancellation of cycling, although The Straits Times could not confirm this. Peter Atencio