KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has suggested that Malaysia spend no more than the RM603 million grant offered to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games if the government decides to host it.
Yeoh told the Dewan Rakyat today that this was her own view as minister and that she would make the proposal to the cabinet when it meets to decide on the matter tomorrow.
She said she had repeatedly said the cabinet had not yet decided whether to host the Games, but today gave her personal view.
“My view as minister is that the Youth and Sports Ministry will always put the people’s interests first. We will never waste taxpayers’ funds, even if we are to host the Games.
“If, and only if we decide to host, the ministry suggests that expenses for the Games not exceed the grant given by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
“If public funds are to be used, then the best option may be not to host it. For this, we will wait for the cabinet (to decide),” she said.
Yeoh was responding to Datuk Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (Alor Star-PN), who asked about the government’s stand on the offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, noting that the state of Victoria in Australia had withdrawn from hosting, citing excessive costs.
The CGF turned to Malaysia after Victoria’s withdrawal, offering a grant of £100 million – RM603 million at today’s exchange rate.
Yeoh said today that should the cabinet decide to go ahead with hosting the Games, her ministry will ensure that expenses are audited thoroughly and swiftly.
Afnan, in a supplementary remark, said he agreed with Yeoh’s views, noting that when Malaysia hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998, the government incurred losses of RM11.6 million and accounts could only be closed 13 years later due to suits over non-payments. – March 21, 2024