RM16mil for services in Brunei

12/03/1999

SUKOM Ninety Eight Bhd, organisers of last year's 16th Commonwealth Games, have submitted a RM16 million proposal to Brunei to help them hold the Sea Games in August.
Sports Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in Kuala Lumpur the Sukom initiative was a private effort.
However, the Malaysian government will send a second team comprising
officials from the National Sports Council, Olympic Council of Malaysia
and Sports Ministry to Brunei in two weeks' time.
"Brunei have sought assistance in the form of judges, technical and
match officials from Malaysia," said Muhyiddin.
"They have also requested for help to train their athletes for the
Games. We will help train their volunteers and assist them on broadcasting facilities.
"Since time is against us, we will only commit on matters which we can
handle and not take on too much."
The first government fact-finding team led by NSC director general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad were in Brunei last month.
Three days ago, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Brunei have made a official request to Malaysia to help them organise their first-ever Games.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation have selected Bank Simpanan National to spar with the visiting Brunei national side on March 16 and 22.
On MHF's grouse over steep rentals at the National Hockey Stadium in
Bukit Jalil, Muhyiddin said they are misinformed.
"The Azlan Shah Cup in April will cost MHF about RM650,000 to host and they have given us a breakdown of the expenditure. We found they did not have pitch rentals on the list. Later, they asked us to waive the rental for the stadium.
"We said `no'. This will set a precedent. If they can set aside so much
of money to organise the tournament, what is RM20,000 in pitch rentals?"
(END)