Sepang Circuit to be regional motorsports hub, KBS aims to ‘reach out’ to mat motor – Syed Saddiq

Sepang Circuit to be regional motorsports hub, KBS aims to ‘reach out’ to <em>mat motor</em> – Syed Saddiq

The government is aiming to develop the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) into a motorsports hub for the Southeast Asia region. According to Bernama, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also wants to bring the youth closer to motorsports.

“It is not only for racers but also for various career fields in sports such as team engineers and mechanics,” Syed Saddiq told Malaysian journalists during a media conference in Silverstone, UK. The event was held to announce the collaboration between SIC and Petronas, the main sponsor of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team.

Previously, the SIC was placed under the supervision of the ministry of finance. It is now under the purview of the youth and sports ministry (KBS), and one of its first initiatives is to reach out to the youth, especially the ‘mat motor‘ or motorcyclists.

Sepang Circuit to be regional motorsports hub, KBS aims to ‘reach out’ to <em>mat motor</em> – Syed Saddiq

“We want to approach these “mat motor” in efforts to find solutions besides recognising motorsports as an important sports in the hearts of Malaysians. My mission is to turn the Sepang International Circuit into a hub of ASEAN motorsports. It will be developed with various facilities.”

“There we will have various types of racing such as drag, F2, F3, F4, MotoGP (and so forth). So there is a comprehensive development under KBS,” he said.

He added that he will be holding a meeting next month with sports enthusiasts, including the youth who were interested in motorsports. “Through this meeting, I hope we can find a common theme and and hear their voices out, and take into account efforts to outline the future of motorsports in Malaysia,” he explained.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • The problem of Mat Rempit will getting worse, because they Racing in circuit, and Training outside on public road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 8
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Aug 27, 2018 at 11:19 am

    this guy has no clue what he is yapping about

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 5
  • Bernard on Aug 27, 2018 at 11:29 am

    Don’t you know that nothing works for Mat Rempit other than confiscating their motorcycles and destroying them. Also, jail them for a year.

    Do this for a year and we wont have a Mat Rempit problem anymore.

    Is that difficult?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
  • superdriver on Aug 27, 2018 at 11:32 am

    Why always mat motor? mat rempit? Selalu diorang aje. Anything related to free facilities , careers and help related to motorsport asyik diorang je. They have been given a chance for many years but still end up hurting and killing many innocent people and our brave men in blue in illegal races. Its time to consider the smart and safer drivers. Those who put safety first then glory and not in some illegal gambling, human trafficking , drugs and other haram activities driven races. Give chance to every one bro. You will definitely see the much improvement and international recognition from the rest of us!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 4
    • AliAhkauRamasamy on Aug 29, 2018 at 6:13 pm

      And call them Badut Rempit instead of ‘giving a high respect’ by calling them Samseng Jalanan

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • poh eng on Aug 27, 2018 at 11:57 am

    Most probably only rich mat motor that have superbike can benefit from this. Those mat rempit who salary around RM900-RM1500 will never afford to pay entrance or participation fee to go race there. These mat rempit end up continue racing on public road and highway. What are you going to do about this, little young minister?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • Add A Comment on Aug 28, 2018 at 7:56 am

      Somehow agree with what you said, unless they reduce the price for entrance or free? Else the mat rempit will not be able to afford to pay.

      But I couldn’t agree with you calling him a “little young minister”. He might be young but what makes you think he is little? You might be old but it doesn’t make you big. Wisdom sometimes doesn’t come with age. This comment of you makes you look even more little than him. You don’t judge someone by the age. There are many young people that are damn smart. Definitely smarter than you and me. By the way, I am not young. I am close to 40.

      p/s: If you are referring to his body size or other parts of his body size that is little…then I got no comment and I do not want to know bro…

      – I Have Added A Comment –

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
      • ‘little young’ is transliteration from ‘sai low kor chai’, so meaning sai low kor chai Minister, who has no clue what the illegal racers requires. SIC is not it.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • While waiting for you to reach out the mat rempit, why don’t import some net gun to stop them from racing on public road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Aug 27, 2018 at 1:01 pm

    so happy the new Minister is doing something good. The old ministry just goyang kaki and did not do anything. Infact, duit in the millions also can hilang. Anyone managed to find the RM100 million hilang before???

    Good job Saddiq

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 7
  • Donno on Aug 27, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    We have quite a good career path for motorcycle racing. The cubprix is a great structured carrier path (Sam Hogg should be given datukship for his outstanding contribution to motorsport in the form of cubprix series. Why is he not yet a datuk?) for aspiring malaysian riders, with rider clinics done at every round for those who dreams of being a motogp rider. There is nothing like cubprix for racing drivers in Malaysia, either for single seaters, touring cars/GT or even rallying/dakar. There should be an affordable, single make car racing/rally series that is equivalent to the Cubprix Wira class to unearth talents. Then there should be a clear ladder to F4, TCR Asia/Asian GT, APRC before going to the world stage.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0
  • 4G63T DSM on Aug 27, 2018 at 1:44 pm

    “There we will have various types of racing such as drag, F2, F3, F4, MotoGP (and so forth). So there is a comprehensive development under KBS,” he said.

    Em, which category does Mat Motor afford to participate in?

    I used to run at Sepang when the track sessions were 150/half day. What is it now? 300? 400? This does not include the cost of trailering the car to the track and tyres, fuel, the maintenance etc etc. A day at the track costs 1500-2000 running something basic like a Satria.

    What Mat Motor needs are smaller regional tracks that are more accessible like Kg Gajah, Pasir Gudang, or the old Batu Tiga. If you want to get the youths involved, they need to start at the grass roots level and keep it affordable.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
    • A Yasir on Aug 28, 2018 at 6:29 am

      the days of RM150 track days are well – missed.
      i’ve tasted the RM100 open track day / 4 hours, but that was for bikes lah hehe.
      mat motor can be encouraged to try out the go – kart track, should be enough for them.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Bring back F1 darn it…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 15
  • panjang on Aug 27, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    Dear minister,
    people built 5 star hotel for people whom can afford 5 star facility.
    People built 3 star hotel for people whom cannot afford 5 star facility.
    People built rumah tumpangan for those really could not afford star.
    Which category does Sepang fall into?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • nashrey on Aug 27, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    1st and foremost, do bring down the track day fees – them has become exorbitantly high over the years, be it 2 or 4 wheelers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • FireAce on Aug 27, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    Looks good on paper but it will not work. It might help a handful with talent and money but 99.9% Mat Motor will not benefit/join. This will not solve anything but a white elephant project

    1. How many can afford the proper safety gears?
    2. How many can afford proper/safe/track legal modification to their bike? Yes, bicycle size tire, bore engine block for bigger pistons, etc are safety hazard thus not allowed on track.
    3. Cannot do superman, cannot front wheel up, must wear helmet… boring

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Se7en on Aug 27, 2018 at 7:45 pm

    Open such premium circuit to such hooligans. You gotta be kidding, kiddo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  • Mat Motorsport on Aug 27, 2018 at 8:33 pm

    Looks like someone didn’t get the memo. You know what they say about stooping to someone’s level?

    Also, they are a menace. You deal with a menace with enforcement or with law and order, not encouragement and opportunity.

    Do you give arsonist a space to burn things to their heart’s content?
    Do you give murderers people to kill?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
 

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