PM Anwar says hosting F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang must benefit petty traders and local communities.
SEREMBAN: Hosting the Formula 1 (F1) Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this October is expected to generate broader economic benefits for the people, including petty traders and local communities, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the MADANI Government wanted to ensure that the benefits of hosting the world-class event would not be confined to large companies, hotels and restaurants, but would also create business opportunities for petty traders in the Sepang area to earn an income.
“I do not want only big companies, big hotels and big restaurants to benefit (economically). I also want the hawker stalls around Sepang, in addition to the larger restaurants. In the outer areas, we must ensure that all these petty traders’ stalls are ready so they can open for business and earn an income,” he said.
Anwar said this at the Temu Anwar programme with about 2,000 Form Six and polytechnic students from across Negeri Sembilan here today.
He said hotel bookings in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur had also shown strong demand following the announcement of the race, which would in turn benefit the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
He said the government is now coordinating preparations involving various agencies, including the Immigration Department, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Royal Malaysia Police, to ensure the race is held smoothly.
The government is also in talks with Bahrain Prime Minister Prince Salman Hamad Al Khalifa to secure special ticket prices for college and higher education students under the MADANI F1 Ticket initiative.
“People have been asking whether there will be MADANI F1 tickets. I told them Bahrain is the organiser, while we are the co-host. Some of the tickets have already been sold, with the lowest-priced ticket costing USD100. USD100 is about RM400 per ticket.
“So now I am negotiating with the Prime Minister of Bahrain to see whether they can offer special ticket prices for university and college students,” he said.
He said the government also wants to showcase Malaysia’s cultural performances to F1 spectators, while training hundreds of volunteers, including Lower Form Six students, to help ensure the smooth running of the event.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Anwar urged students not to be influenced by politics that seeks to pit one race against another, but instead to appreciate the country’s diversity, which he described as a defining feature of Malaysia.
He said the position of the Malays remains safeguarded under the Federal Constitution, and that recognising and protecting the rights of all communities should not be misconstrued as undermining or eroding the position of the Malays.
“This is Malaysia. That is why I do not agree with politics that seeks to set one race against another. No one has ever disputed that this country has a Malay majority, the King, the Prime Minister, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Bank Negara are all Malays,” he said.
He added that after nearly 70 years of independence, Malaysians should be more vigilant to ensure that racial issues are not exploited as political tools to incite anger and division.
“The Constitution also guarantees that Malaysians of all races should be embraced as one family. We must recognise and respect everyone. Recognising the rights of all does not mean rejecting anyone; the position of the Malays remains safeguarded,” he said.
