KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) will score a first when he competes in the SEA Games next month.

He will be the first government minister in the region to take part in the biennial games, and in so doing, the first Malaysian sports minister to do so.

On Friday, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) confirmed that Khairy will be one of the 871 athletes to represent Malaysia at the Games from Aug 19 to 30.

The OCM endorsed the selection of Khairy as one of the seven-member equestrian polo team.

Khairy, however, is not the only dignitary in the equestrian list. He will be accompanied by Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who will take part in the endurance.

"Any Malaysian is good enough to represent Malaysia at the SEA Games and that includes our Youth and Sports Minister," OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said.

"He has taken time to train and he has come through a selection process. OCM ensured that the selection process was adhered to."

Said Malaysia's chef-de-mission Datuk Marina Chin: "It's an honour to have young athletes, seasoned campaigners, a minister and a Sultan in our Malaysian contingent. It's my hope to give every single one of them my fair attention. I'm proud that the team has prepared well."