Kedah’s Sungai Petani racing circuit has been thrust into the spotlight again, with the latest state government saying the state has not forgotten about the project, and is in the midst of raising funds to finance the construction.
A bit of background history to this – plans for a northern race circuit in Kedah existed way back in 2014. We have the Tangkak circuit in Johor and the tiny Dato’ Sagor track in Perak, and Batu Tiga is long gone with Sepang taking over duties in the Klang Valley, but we have nothing in the north, so the Kedah menteri besar at that time, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, announced plans to build a 1.6 km circuit on a 70-hectare site on Sungai Petani, with completion expected around 2017.
Nothing happened until 2017, when the prime minister at the time, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, announced that he had approved an allocation of RM30 million to build a race circuit in Sungai Petani. 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.”
However, the Kedah chief minister at the time, Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, said the state did not want to rush into things as maintaining a circuit can be costly.
No news about the circuit since then, but the present Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has given some updates in a Bernama report about what has been going on with the project.
According to Sanusi, RM10 million out of the approved RM30 million budget had been spent on earthworks, but work had halted ever since due to insufficient budget. He says the previous state government had changed the original plan and costs had bloated to RM73 million, but the KBS ministry was unable to channel the extra allocation to cover the new costs.
The plan now is to revert to the original design that was given a RM30 million budget, and to sell some of the land allocated for the circuit to fund any shortfall. Thus, the land allocated for the circuit will be divided into a commercial area and a motorsports area.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Selling off tanah pusaka land to build a race track. This is a new real low for us local akal pendek clan, and this in Kedah the same state of our Umno mamak Baling MP son driving with 2 polis outriders. LOL
maybe the outriders will follow his racecar on the track
If anyone dares to overtake that DAP MP son, sure kena piang by his escorts.
Give it a rest la! You umno cybertroopers don’t have any credibility left! Everyone knows that it was the baling mp’s son! Instead of trying to bring down the opposition with lies, why not build up the government by giving constructive criticism? What that guys son did was wrong! Just admit it and move on.
Give it a rest la! You PH cybertroopers don’t have any credibility left! Everyone knows that it was the Penang DAP mp’s son! Instead of trying to bring down the government with lies, why not build up the opposition by giving constructive criticism? What that guys son did was wrong! Just admit it and move on.
People can hardly put affordable food on the table.
Now,the dude is more worried the track is behind time,and sell assets to finance the inflated project.
When u r stranded in an island,you look for food or racing track?
Another day,the dude will say too many basikal lajat kids roaming Kedah,so sell assets again,to build special track?
Hello,this is called “spending with no tomorrow”.
Disgusting,pathetic,unacceptable piece of crap.
Blaming UMNO? Helloooo Kedah is under PN lah brader! And stop slandering Baling MP when the whole world knows it is DAP MP’s son, the incident happen in Penang not Baling, please get your facts right.
Pentaksub UMNgok detected –
PH macai detected. Ini semua salah PN/PH.
Copy paste: “what is this to do with baling? baling is not in penang ya. keep my town out of your damn mouth!”
nakal ye letak gambar raptor
Rempit will rempit regardless if got track or not. Part of the thrill is street racing. Having a track will not solve your rempit problem.
I’ve run into many “street racers” talking shit but none will go to track and do lap times against seasoned track users. They depend on bravery and aggression to race. Not technical finesse.
A dedicated track is good. But it won’t solve your rempit problem.
Even that tiny Dato Sagor track isn’t cheap to rent for an event.
White elephant…
the mb needs somewhere to baja his range raptor
Rarely we see Paul Tan himself writing in nowadays.
Anyway
Pasir Gudang circuit is no more for years already.
There is a new permanent track in Tangkak, Johor.
There is also the MIMC track in Melaka.
Right now the very active Terengganu International Drag Strip in Kuala Terengganu is very popular with racers.
The Dato Sagor track is unfortunately mired in political wrangling. Middle finger to those who took it away from the people who tirelessly cleaned up the abandoned track.
In the north, there is actually a track in UNIMAP Perlis. It is now temporarily closed, but it is there.
To the Kedah State Government,
Before selling parcels of land to unrelated parties, first offer them to automotive companies in Kedah/Penang area. Ask them to use it for their companies purpose, from showroom to even R&D garage like many companies do in Nurburgring. Then ask them also to sponsor the upkeep of the Track.
Automotive companies in Kedah
– Continental Tires (Alor Setar, Kedah)
– Modenas/Kawasaki motorcycle (Gurun, Kedah)
– KTM motorcycle (Jitra, Kedah)
– Stellantis (Peugeot/Citroen) (Gurun, Kedah)
– Porsche (Kulim, Kedah)
– Mazda (Kulim, Kedah)
– Hyundai (Kulim, Kedah)
– KIA (Kulim, Kedah)
– Benelli/WMoto/SYM/MForce motorcycle (Seberang Prai, Penang)
– Honda Motorcycle (Batu Kawan, Seberang Prai, Penang)
Yeah right….always use the reason to stop people from rempit when building a race track. Does that ever work?
That millions of RM is better spent to buy more bikes for JPJ so they can curb que jumpers, red light runners, gadget drivers, etc.
Motorsport in Malaysia is not for marhaen. Also, if people wants to become stupid and rempit, enforce the law the best u can. If still fail then u have to accept that some are born to be stupid. If everyone are smart then there will be no politician….opps, thats another topic.
So wise guy.
Tell me how many race track already build to give these mat rempit a proper place to race?
How could something work when it is not build?
Build one track for mat rempit in every State. If that still does not reduce mat rempit on the streets, then you can say it does not work.