The SEA / SEAP Games is a bi-annual sporting event competed between member countries of the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF). A total of ten (11) countries became members and the Games also invited Timor Leste to participate. The Games have been organized since 1959 known as the SEAP Games before being converted to the SEA Games when Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines joined the SEAGF in 1977. The Games were rotated between the SEAGF countries.

The 2001 SEA Games are a reminder not only of Kuala Lumpur hosting but also of the achievement of 111 gold medals won by national athletes - the highest collection of national contingent involvement in biennial games at that time.

The 2003 Vietnam SEA Games saw Malaysia collect 43 gold medals followed by 61 gold medals at the 2005 Manila Games. However, the country's best achievement outside Kuala Lumpur was at the 2007 Korat Sea Games when it won 68 gold, 52 silver and 96 bronze medals.

The 2009 Laos SEA Games are remembered for the achievements of the national football squad in ending the 20-year gold medal wait by winning the mother of all the gold medals at the Games. Overall, the collection of gold medals decreased to 40 gold medals only due to the lack of the number of sports competed apart from the hosts risking many types of local sports.

The 2011 Indonesian SEA Games saw the country collect 58 gold medals and the most gratifying was when they managed to defend the gold medal in football after beating the host team in the final.

The SEA Games, Nay Pyi Taw, the national contingent surpassed the target by winning 43 gold, 38 silver and 77 bronze medals. Malaysia lost 28 gold medals as a result of the hosts not competing in the sports that are the strength of the Malaysian contingent.

National athletes showed exceptional performance at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore when they won 62 gold, 58 silver and 66 bronze, surpassing the collection of 40 gold in the 2009 edition in Laos, 2011 in Indonesia (58 gold) and 2013 in Myanmar (43 gold) . This makes the success of the Malaysian contingent in Singapore the second best achievement outside Kuala Lumpur after the 2007 edition in Korat, Thailand which saw Malaysia win 68 gold medals.

The 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games became the most meaningful event for Malaysia in the history of SEA Games participation. The Malaysian contingent emerged overall champions with the largest gold medal collection with 145 gold, 92 gold and 86 bronze medals, surpassing the 2001 SEA Games.

Action at the 2019 SEA Games Philippines, Malaysia ended the 2019 SEA Games campaign with a collection of 56 gold, 58 silver and 72 bronze to be in fifth place overall. Malaysia lost the gold medal because the hosts did not compete in the sports that are the strength of the Malaysian contingent.

Penyertaan di Sukan SEA Hanoi 2021 menyaksikan Kontinjen Malaysia berjaya melepasi sasaran 36 pingat emas selepas mengumpul 39 emas, 45 perak dan 90 gangsa sekaligus berada di kedudukan keenam keseluruhan.