Games cost scaled down, says Hashim

08/08/1998

THE total budget for the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games will be about 15
per cent below the projected cost of RM310 million, Sukom Ninety Eight
executive chairman Jen (R) Tan Sri Hashim Ali said yesterday.
"The budget was prepared in 1995 and right now we feel it is inflated,"
said Hashim after receiving 100 Mercedes Benz cars from Cycle & Carriage
Bintang (CCB).
Hashim said some of their departments had spent less than the original
allocations and this made it possible for Sukom to reduce expenditure.
"Some of the allocations will not be used because they will not needed
to run the Games."
The new estimate shaves RM46.5 million off the original budget. This
means that Sukom Games budget has now been met
Sukom, have so far collected RM260 million and with the latest estimate,
their books are balanced.
Sukom have also pledged to pay the RM2 million to the Olympic Council of
Malaysia (OCM) for the marketing rights to the Malaysian team.
There was some `complications' over this payment with Sukom saying that
they would wait until next year to balance their books before releasing
any money to OCM.
"The OCM have approached us for money to entertain International Olympic
Committee (IOC) members who will be coming for the Games so we have
decided to advance RM300,000 for the purpose," said Hashim.
"The balance of RM1.7 million will be handed over by April next year."
Some of the equipment for the Games such as gymnastics and weightlifting
apparatus have been purchased by Sukom will also be given to the
associations.
"This is still subject to approval by the Sukom shareholders but the
initial feeling is that we will not sell the equipment but give it away.
"And after the Games, if we have surplus money, we will donate some for
sporting excellence."
Sukom started with an RM10 million advance from the Government and they
will honour their pledge to return the money.
"There is no question about that, the RM10 million will be returned to
the Government," said Hashim.
Under the agreement signed with CCB, Sukom will get to use 100 Mercedes
Benz cars as official international cars for use by the Games family
members.
The agreement was signed by Hashim and CCB chairman Tan Sri Salehuddin
Mohamed, with Sukom marketing director Rosly Selamat and CCB managing
director Mohamad Hasan signing as witnesses.
CCB will also provide three convertibles for the opening and closing
ceremonies.
"The vehicles will be used to ferry the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Queen
Elizabeth for the opening and closing ceremonies."
(END)