The newly launched Terengganu Tourism and Cultural Events Calendar (COE) 2026 marks a significant milestone for the state as it officially includes the Terengganu 4×4 extreme motorsport event as one of its 13 flagship programmes in support of the national Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (TMM 2026) campaign, which begins next year.

The recognition comes on the back of strong momentum within Terengganu’s off‑road motorsport scene throughout the year. The fifth edition of the Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge, held in Bandar Baru Kuala Nerus last August, successfully gathered 152 competition vehicles and 304 participants from across the country—setting a new benchmark for positioning the sport as a viable tourism product for the state.

Adding to this momentum, Terengganu‑based team GG 4×4 recently made history on the international stage by securing third place at the Rainforest Challenge Grand Final 2025, which concluded in Gua Musang, Kelantan on 10 December.

“Four‑wheel‑drive extreme sports in Terengganu have a long history spanning several generations, and today it has been elevated as one of the state’s tourism products, marking a new chapter for the community and for all 4×4 enthusiasts in Terengganu.

“Personally, I do not see this recognition as something exclusive to us as organisers. The 4×4 ecosystem in Terengganu thrives because of the collective cooperation between various clubs and communities who work together to elevate this sport as a tourism product for the state,” said Muhammad Muzzammil Mokhetar, the principal stakeholder behind the Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge since its inception in 2023.

Muzzammil, who also serves as President of the Ummah Four‑Wheel Drive Sports Club (UT4x4), added that the event’s continued success is the result of strong collaboration with local clubs such as Kelab Terjoh! 4×4 Kuala Terengganu and GG 4×4, each contributing technical expertise and organisational experience.

As part of ongoing efforts to attract more visitors to the state and to promote off‑road motorsports among recreational communities, UT4x4 and several local 4×4 clubs are now planning a 60‑kilometre expedition through the dense forests of Hulu Terengganu.

The launch ceremony was officiated by the Chairman of the State Committee on Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change, Datuk Razali Idris, who emphasised that strategic cooperation between the Terengganu State Tourism and Culture Department, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), and Tourism Malaysia will significantly strengthen the state’s contribution to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign through a diverse range of tourism products from the east coast.

For the record, the Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge 2026 is one of 13 main events and more than 100 supporting programmes announced during the ceremony, which was held at a local hotel.