KUALA LUMPUR: The Youth and Sports Ministry today called on private stakeholders to seek government approval before bidding to host and organise international sporting events in Malaysia.
Its minister Hannah Yeoh said the matter was imperative as the government must factor in financial perspective before any decisions were to be made.
She also said that it was unfair to the government if any parties went into bidding without consent.
"For international events, we usually have parties that will go and bid, where some had bid without the government's approval.
"Some parties came to meet me… they want to bid for international events, but they don't have the money. They want the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Finance (MoF) to provide funding.
"Actually, according to the Sports Development Act 1997, bidding cannot be done without approval, otherwise, the government will be burdened with financial expenses to organise events like this," she said during the ministry's winding-up speech on Supplementary Supply Bill (2023) 2024 in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Yeoh said this in response to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) who enquired the minister on contradicting statements made by certain parties over the hosting of international sports events such as Formula One.
She also cited the Sports Development Act 1997 which highlighted that all international sports, including motorsport, must obtain the government's approval before bidding.
"Section 33 of the act specifies that no individual or entity can propose or nominate themselves to host any international sporting event or competition in Malaysia without obtaining prior written approval from the minister."
On Formula E, Yeoh said a discussion will be held next week with relevant stakeholders over plans to host next year's Formula E-Prix Grand Finale in Kuala Lumpur.
"Following the report published and the statement I made in the house previously, the company had contacted my office.
"They also acknowledged that they did not have any meeting with us, but went straight to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"Hence, we have scheduled a meeting next week to meet them to see the information they have," she said.
Yeoh said this in response to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) over reports that the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) stood corrected over Formula E's interest in its grand finale race in Malaysia next year.
This comes after Yeoh urged the media to seek clarification from her office before publishing news reports based on hearsay rather than facts.
Meanwhile, Formula E's local partner Sports Tech Holding said the company had also reached out to PMO to submit a formal letter from Formula E to arrange a meeting and discuss the race opportunity in detail.
