The Youth and Sports Ministry came under fire from several Senators during debate on the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

During the wind-up session for the ministry by its deputy minister Senator Gan Ping Sieu, Senator Mohammed Najeeb Abdullah raised the issue of the ministry wanting to become joint hosts with Indonesia for the World Cup in future.

He said Malaysia should at least reach South Africa's ranking of being 66th in four years time from the 142nd now in order to make the joint bid for the 2026 World Cup. South Africa was the hosts of this year's World Cup.

Senator Musa Sheikh Fadzir then intervened and asked the Youth and Sports Minister to forget the idea and concentrate on the home front first.

"Stop dreaming, our football, badminton and hockey are in the pits. Rectify this situation first," he said.

Senator Ng Fook Heng then joined in the fray and voiced his support for Musa on the matter.

"What's the point talking about hosting the World Cup when even for local matches our stadiums are most of the time empty," he said.

Senator Dr S Ramakrishnan then chipped in saying the ministry was still in denial mode as it thought everything was hunky-dory where sports was concerned.

Earlier, Dewan Negara president Abu Zahar Ujang had also ticked off the ministry for sending the deputy minister, who was only recently appointed to the post, to do the wind up.

- Bernama