Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirms F1, Le Tour de Langkawi, and KLSCM will go ahead this weekend despite unhealthy haze levels.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s major sporting events this weekend will proceed as scheduled despite unhealthy air quality in parts of the country and ongoing efforts to assist Indonesia in tackling fires contributing to the regional haze, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today.
Fahmi said there were currently no plans to disrupt events taking place from Oct 2 to 4, including the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) and the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM).
“For Oct 2 to 4, the first is Le Tour de Langkawi, the second is the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix, and the third is the Standard Chartered Marathon.
“At this time, on the government side managing F1, the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will continue,” he told a press conference after the Cabinet meeting here.
The assurance comes as haze continues to affect parts of the country, with at least 32 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 10am today.
Malaysia has also offered the use of its assets to help Indonesia tackle fires in affected areas, following Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Fahmi said Zahid had raised the matter with Prabowo, but Malaysia was still awaiting a formal response from Jakarta.
“However, at this time, Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) has yet to receive a response to the note sent by Wisma Putra to the Indonesian side.
“So, we are still following official channels, as well as direct discussions between the top leadership,” he said.
The three sporting events are expected to draw thousands of participants and spectators over the weekend.
The Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix will be held at Sepang from Oct 2 to 4, marking the circuit’s return to the Formula 1 calendar after a nine-year absence. Sepang last hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017.
LTdL is already under way and will conclude on Oct 4 after eight stages covering 1,258.5km across Peninsular Malaysia. Its final three stages will take riders from Pandan Indah to Rembau, Melaka to Batu Pahat and Muar to Putrajaya.
KLSCM will be held on Oct 3 and 4, with tens of thousands of runners expected to take part in races centred around Dataran Merdeka.
The marathon will also result in temporary road closures across central Kuala Lumpur, including parts of Jalan Raja, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang and Jalan Kuching.
With the three events coinciding, the weekend is expected to bring increased visitor activity and traffic disruptions across several locations, while authorities continue to monitor the haze situation.
