KUALA LUMPUR – Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) has brought to Parliament allegations of financial mismanagement during the 1998 Commonwealth Games, as the government deliberates hosting the 2026 edition.
Lim, who is also DAP national chairman, said the government should reveal how much it spent during the ‘98 Games, reiterating claims that the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led administration then suffered millions in losses.
“There are many quarters (asserting that the government) had to shoulder massive losses (and) no action was taken against those involved at that time (during the ‘98 Games).
“Tens of millions in losses… who bore the losses? These questions have caused much concern since the proposal for Malaysia to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” Lim said during his debate on the Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He also said the government should consider any additional costs or financial implications before deciding on hosting the 2026 Games.
Lim then said the £100-million (RM602-million) fund injection offered to Malaysia by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the event in two years’ time would “definitely not be enough”, requesting that the allocation be upped, “if possible”.
The CGF had offered Malaysia the chance to host the Games, following the Australian state Victoria’s withdrawal last year due to an increase in costs, with its initial expectation of AU$2.6 billion (about RM8.09 billion) ballooning to AU$7 billion.
It was previously reported that the then-Barisan Nasional government under Dr Mahathir’s leadership had spent more than RM1.029 billion on the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where the contingent finished fourth in the medals table with 36 medals.
The total bill, including the provision of new roads, railways, land acquisitions and other facilities, plus the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport, came to nearly US$5 billion (RM23.4 billion).
It is believed that the decision on Malaysia hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games hinges on a proposal by the Youth and Sports Ministry to the cabinet this Friday. – March 19, 2024