January 17, 2007 00:25 AM
PERMANENT FEATURE… Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (centre) officiating the 2007 F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Looking on are Petronas Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Merican (left) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir. Pix: Azman Firdaus
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tuesday night said that the government would ensure that the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix remains a permanent feature in the country's sports calendar.
He said the Grand Prix had been a key event for the government in enhancing the country's international image and in promoting Malaysia as a leading international tourist destination.
"I am confident that Malaysia's participation in Formula One will continue to grow even further. One of the targets for the Sepang International Circuit when it was established nine years ago in 1998 was for it to be an official test circuit for all things F1.
"Hence, after nine years of ongoing effort, I am happy to note that the Sepang F1 Circuit has now been included as one of the official test circuits for 2007," said Abdullah at the official launch of the 2007 F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix here.
The Prime Minister called upon the race promoter, Sepang International Circuit Sdn Bhd, to continue their good work to ensure that Malaysia remained a permanent test circuit in the F1 calendar.
He said that the selection of the Sepang F1 Circuit as an official test track was a prestigious recognition of the track facilities as well as the solid capabilities of the people involved in the administration and operation of the circuit.
Abdullah noted that as the Malaysian Grand Prix was amongst the key thrusts of the 2007 Visit Malaysia Year programme, the government would further extend its involvement in the F1 world championship.
He said that the event also attracted an average of 40,000 international fans besides tens of thousands of local supporters.
"Some six hundred million more view it live via television broadcasts. Effectively that makes the Malaysian Grand Prix the largest single event to showcase Malaysia to international audiences and to attract foreign tourists," Abdullah said.
He also called upon the organizers of sports tourism-related events to perform at their peak when promoting and executing their respective programmes for VMY 2007.
The Prime Minister said that Malaysia's ability to stage an F1 event had far reaching significance in the overall nation building process and which allowed Malaysia to draw closer in its aspiration of becoming a developed country by 2020.
"This is because the F1 has, in its own way, helped to draw Malaysians closer towards advanced technologies and applications, which are showcased by all the teams participating in this annual event," he said.
He said that the exposure to an F1 team was one of the most precise, exacting and demanding job available anywhere in the world.
He added that through local F1 events, many Malaysians had been given the opportunity to work as part of engineering, maintenance and service crews of participating teams.
"I believe that the F1 has helped developed confidence and competitiveness for those Malaysians fortunate enough to have been given the chance to participate directly or indirectly in the sports," he added.
Source: BERNAMA
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