Although prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak approved a RM30 million allocation to build a new motorcycle race track in Sungai Petani in February, the Kedah government has said that it needs to take into account various factors, such as the cost of maintenance, before construction can proceed as promised.
Bernama quoted chief minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who said that the state government does not want to rush into making a decision as maintaining a circuit can be costly. “We cannot build a world-class racing circuit like the one in Sepang, which costs up to RM70 million, as proposed by the previous leader [Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir] because the maintenance cost will be high.
“Considering that, the state government has discussed, amended and made new plans to ensure that the maintenance cost will somehow be bearable,” he said in a reply to MP Nor Saidin Nanyan when asked about the delay of the project during the sitting of the state legislative assembly yesterday. Ahmad Bashah also said that the RM30 million figure bandied about did not include the maintenance cost.
The project was aimed at eliminating illegal street racing, with Najib saying, “The track will benefit the youth, there will be no more need for Mat Rempit to race on the streets. They can race all they want on a track then.” Plans for a “northern motorsports hub” were initially mooted back in 2014, with Mukhriz, who was then chief minister, proposing a 1.6 km race circuit on a 70-hectare site in Sungai Petani.
The facility was initially expected to be completed in 2016 or 2017, and was slated to feature a race track, off-road course, drag strip, grandstand and hill stand seating, a paddock building and retail premises. Recognition from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the Federation of International Motorcycling (FIM) would also be sought.
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Hek eleh rilek la bang.
Is this important when hospitals got no medicine at all? Oratis, the company that handles medicine for pensioners had to close overnight cause gomen could not pay them.
Even schools have no money. My old school La Salle in PJ begging old students for money to put projector in classrooms.
Hospitals no money. Schools no money. University no money.
But got money to do race circuit
This Bashah guy must be very blur at business. Nobody say provide the track for free bruder, charge the racers money to race la.
RM30 million is a lot for a track, and with constant income from racers, concert, and other non-racing activity at the track, the facility can easily be maintained.
Unless of course, this lack of money complaint is indirectly aimed at the PM to give more for the upcoming election use.
We are GOOD in building race track. In fact, we are Very Good in building almost anything. The problem is – We are Also Very Good in NOT maintaining many buildings & structures. If anyone ask me, I will gladly show/tell where are those White Elephant.
Drive around & you will find many buildings especially flats that is in NEED of Painting, plants that needs replanting or replacing, potholes that can kill a motorcyclist & facilities that need to be replace or upgrade.
The priorities are Wrong. Tell me if a race track is more important for a selected few than public amenities or facilities for it’s people. If our Gov cannot tell which is more important, better resign.
U got ur terminology wrong. Poor maintenance dun mean its white elefump. Take example SMRT alwiz breakdown, but izit white elefump? No right?
And while public amenities is needed veli mucho, if theres no outlet for youths to let of steam, then these disgruntled youths will vandalise and destroy these new public amenities that we spend so mucho deadak to build instead of a race track for them. Then it be lose-lose for all, deshou?
1st of all, why do youth go Lepaking/Rempit ?? Bcos their home is NOT in proper conditions for hanging around. If the building/community/flats have a reading room, it will spur these youth 2 read more.
If our Gov build more playground, more jogging & cycling tracks, the youth will have more places to spend their times usefully.
The ONLY Sane person in the Gov is none other than the CM Ahmad Bashah, who said that the state gov does not want to rush into making a decision as MAINTAINING a circuit can be costly.
For that, I want to congratulate him for having more sense/foresight than all the other VIP add up & that include U john. There is a time & place 4 building a race track BUT this is certainly NOT the time.
U do realise we r toking about kids in late teens/ early adults, right? Do u hang out at library or playground when u were 18~21?
But I guess this logic of urs comes from someone who has no foresight whatsoever. As for time… heres some wise words: “Theres no time like the present”
During my 18-20. I was in collage studying. Active playing football & Hockey representing my clubs in Division 1.
In fact I read the ENTIRE Encyclopedia. My interest is everything on wheels just like most Kids.
If I can actively play & read, am sure many teens would like 2 do the same if only they are given the same chance.
Fortunately for many kids in Subang USJ & Puchong Jaya, they have a Library each where many kids use for studying, reading & research.
Unfortunately, not all get to utilize these facilities as there is not “Enough” of such facilities. That is precisely why the $$$ should be put 2 Good use.
Good for u Mikey, Subang USJ & Puchong Jaya.
Selangor surely better administrated.
In some civilized Gov, senior Gov officials are impeached.
In MY, they just get charged.
Tu lah, cakap proposal senang, tapi bila nak maintain, susah nak maintain… Lu orang tengok, yang mana building under government, semua maintain sikit ataupun tak maintain langsung. Baik la Kedah State voice up. Jikalau tidak, circuit ni lama-lama akan jadi off road / bumping road.
Nak buat camner….Dewan komuniti kat taman kiter pon jd sarang lalok.
kat precint 7 ka bro? kasik report la..hg bising kat sini buat apa..Precint 18 punya dewan sempoii habaq hang..
What a waste of public money to satisfy the rempits. What a nuisance
What can be done. Kedah is the home of quite a few big automotive linked companies. The state government can ask them to sponsor the track, or events at the track for the rakyat. Companies based in Kedah includes Petronas, Continental Tires, Naza Automotive, GO Automotive, Modenas, KTM motorcycle and others.
Why so pricey? Tangkak racing track is only half the cost and yet serve the purpose quite well.
Haha..like father like son. Mahathir with the Sepang F1 circuit, Mukhriz with the Sungai Petani circuit. Not that I opposing this type of project, but the fact that the project is totally funded by the Gomen made the public really furious. In this age, it should at least be partially funded by the G, and the balance those related parties should seek funding from the private sectors or maybe from some millionaire petrolheads. But I guess the private sectors are also very tight on sponsorship, except maybe for Petronas. On another note, Klang Valley should have another circuit to cater for more accessible local grassroot / clubman racing..
lu sendri kutuk like father like son pastu lu sendri ckp private sector reluctant to fund..apaaraaa..
i dont think that the general public were really furious on Sepang F1 circuit project last time..the build timing & economic situation was just right..maybe those who dont knw much about the Motorsport or perhaps F1 were the one complaining bout building it..heck, look at what it has done to Malaysia’s Motorsport scene/industry now..
why rempits love to race on streets ??? because they felt more and more shiok compare race in track !!! Do you think spent so much to build race track plus the maitenence cost in future can stop them race on street ??
of cos we know why you want to build race track … all becos you want to make them shiok , but we are the one suffer!
seriously? to eliminate mat rempit is by doing regular enforcement and not by giving them a 30 MILLION track!
these are youngster who lacks discipline and enjoys the thrill of danger..and you expect them to race on track and have to pay some more?? GOODLUCK!
I’m not really against building a racing track, but please provide us with proper justification like raising another hafizh syahrin, adam norodin etc and not using petty justification to curb mat rempit..
I will open Rossi and Marc brand motor Modification shop near by there.
one of those mat rempit could be the next valentino rossi in the future, give them proper place to train lah.
In other words, it means:
“if business make profit, let’s share-share, enjoy-enjoy, yah??….”
if business make loss, you yourself suffer, okeh??