A CONTROVERSY has been sparked over Malaysia’s opportunity to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Australian state of Victoria had pulled out citing increased financial cost of about A$7 bil (about RM22 bil).
Malaysia had originally bid for the 2026 hosting right but lost out to Victoria. Many well-intentioned citizens have commented that despite the opportunity that has presented itself to the country, the financial situation of the country needs to be considered.
Malaysia had successfully hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games and can benefit immensely from the experience.
The estimated cost of hosting will be around part of the expenditure can be recouped by the multiplier and spillover effects of hosting the Games.
The government could ask the nation’s billionaires, most of whom who grew rich from government projects and contracts to make reasonable contributions.
Possibly, a billion ringgit could be raised if the billionaires and the corporate sector chip in to defray the cost.
Since Malaysia will be hosting at short notice, organisers of the Commonwealth Games can be asked to trim down the number of participants and possibly the less popular events, and this will save a few millions in costs.
Apartments, as was done before to house the athletes and officials can be built as part of an affordable housing project and ultimately sold to the M40 and B40 groups at a small profit.
Some stadiums can be renovated and the events can be spread out to East and West Malaysia and state governments can be asked to foot part of the bill as part of their sports development programme.
Construction of the Shah Alam stadium can be expedited to host some of the events.
The government can also trim expenditure at various levels by being cost conscious in hosting the Games and use the present infrastructure, sports fraternity and volunteers to help out.
Furthermore, the year 2025 is Visit Malaysia Year and hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 will give added momentum to the economy, which now mostly lacks any excitement or enthusiasm to boost the national morale.
These two events will give the socio-economy a big boost due to the multiplier effects. Malaysia now has a new King, Sultan Ibrahim, a new prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and a committed new woman Youth and Sports minister, Hannah Yeoh, all of whom symbolise the new unity government.
Personally for Anwar, it will mean his rebound and resurgence when it is remembered that just days before the 1998 Commonwealth Games began he was sacked from UMNO and arrested by the Mahathir administration.
Thus began a two-decade long ordeal of political struggle which culminated in him becoming the premier in November 2022.
The symbolism of being prime minister during the 2026 Games will not be lost on Anwar when he feels like the “comeback kid”.
The government has to win over a large number of pessimists who oppose hosting the Games because it could be a losing proposition due to the bad shape of the economy.
Many, on the other hand, also feel that a couple of billions spent for the Games is not going to sink the ship especially when most of the expenses can be recouped back through invigorating the sluggish economy and reaping the spillover effects.
Should Malaysia give up the chance, possibly the best country presently will be India as its economy is doing very well and there has been a major resurgence in sports development.
India as the premier nation in the Commonwealth could be called upon to save the 2026 Games if all else fails, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s win in the upcoming parliamentary elections could raise the stakes of Indian hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. – March 13, 2024
V. Thomas
Sungai Buloh, Selangor
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
