Malaysia complains about nutritional deficit in athlete meals at SEA Games

By Hoang Nguyen , Quang Dung, Hoang AnDecember 11, 2025 | 06:44 pm PT

Concerns regarding athlete welfare at the 33rd SEA Games have intensified as Malaysia and other participating nations continue to lodge complaints about the quality and nutritional value of meals provided by the host nation Thailand.

At a meeting between heads of delegations on Thursday, Malaysia representative said their athletes have complained about a lack of Halal food as most of the Malaysian athletes are Muslim followers.

According to Islamic standards, a Halal meal includes food free of pork, alcohol and blood. Livestock and poultry must be slaughtered according to special rituals, such as by a Muslim adult, with prayers recited and handled quickly to avoid causing pain to the animal.

Permitted Halal ingredients include seafood, fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, eggs, and plant-based foods.

The Malaysia delegation has asked for more protein options in athletes' meals, which currently only comprise of chicken and fish.

Delegations from other nations with Muslim populations, including Brunei, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste, have previously reported that the meals provided failed to meet Halal standards.

According to Thairath, multiple sports delegations have criticized the meals prepared by the organizing committee, citing a lack of nutrition required for high-performance competition.

As a result, many athletes have been forced to purchase food from outside vendors to ensure they maintain the energy levels necessary for competition.

A standard meal that was given to the Vietnam womens futsal team at the SEA Games 33. Photo taken from Facebook

A standard meal that was given to the Vietnam women's futsal team at the 33rd SEA Games, including rice, an omelet, a stir-fry portion and some slices of cucumber for green. Photo taken from Facebook

On Dec. 9, Thana Chaiprasit, vice president and secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, held an emergency meeting with representatives from participating countries to address logistical issues.

A key request during this meeting was for the organizing committee to switch from serving pre-packaged boxed lunches to a buffet-style service to ensure better variety and quality. However, three days after the meeting, the delegations reported that there had been no change in the meal quality.

The Sports Authority of Thailand allocated a total budget of 247.16 million baht (US$7.2 million) for accommodation, meals, laundry, and transportation for both the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games. Of this total, 17.2 million baht was specifically spent on athlete and coaching staff meals.

Under the current contract, the catering company is required to prepare three main meals per day, adhering to hotel standards. The allocated cost per meal is approximately 239 baht ($7).