Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) vice-president Dato' Shahrul Zaman Yahya revealed that discussions were underway over hosting the either Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in the future.

Malaysia last staged the Commonwealth Games in 1998 when the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur played host.

Yahya said the "logical progression" was to stage the Asian Games but admitted the Commonwealth Games was another possibility.

The Malaysia Rugby Union President has recently been appointed as chair of the OCM Multi-Sports Games - a standing committee looking into staging future events.

"There is certainly serious talk about us hosting a big Games in the next 10 or 15 years," Yahya told insidethegames.

"Hosting Games is not a small feat.

"It is something that we have to plan probably for.

"Not only to host it but to bid for it would require very extensive and proper plans.

"Yes, we are talking about it.

"It is not impossible for us to perhaps host the Commonwealth Games again.

"Of course, the next progression for us after hosting the Commonwealth Games, we are looking at hosting the Asian Games.

"Again, there’s nothing stopping us from considering to host the Commonwealth Games after that very successful Commonwealth Games in 1998."

The OCM’s hopes of staging the Asian Games within the next 15 years have already been dashed after the 2030 and 2034 editions were awarded to Qatar and Saudi Arabia respectively at the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly last December.

The next Asian Games available to bid for is the 2038 edition - whereas a host has yet to be nailed down for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Hamilton appeared the frontrunner for the event but has now pivoted back to a bid for 2030, which would mark the centenary of the first Commonwealth Games in the Canadian city, after the bog group could not obtain Government support.

Despite struggles to secure hosts, Yahya - who is also Malaysia’s Chef de Mission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said he "very optimistic" about the event’s future.

"I have seen the Commonwealth Games growing and I think it will continue to grow in terms of the number of athletes that will participate," said Yahya.

"Now it is going back to the home country I think that will provide an additional boost to the Commonwealth Games for the future."

Malaysia made history in 1998 when it became the first Asian nation to host the Commonwealth Games.

Kuala Lumpur saw off competition from Australian city Adelaide to secure the hosting rights at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in 1992.

More than 3,600 athletes from 70 countries competed at Kuala Lumpur 1998 as team sports including cricket, hockey, netball and rugby sevens featured in the Games for the first time.

Yahya said the Games had a huge impact on Malaysia, with the National Sports Complex - now known as KL Sports City - built for the event.

"The National Sports Complex has definitely been one of the greatest legacies from the Commonwealth Games in 1998," said Yahya.

"Our public transport system started for the Games and it has been upgraded leaps and bounds.

"The 1998 Commonwealth Games also introduced a few sports, namely cricket, hockey, netball and rugby sevens.

"As the President of Malaysia Rugby Union that meant a lot to us.

"We can still remember very strongly how [New Zealand rugby great] Jonah Lomu dragged one of our players from the middle of the field all the way to the try line."