KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 ― The government has assured to prioritise Malaysians' interests amid talks on hosting the Commonwealth Games 2026, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has said today.
She said the decision needed further scrutiny and should not be made hastily.
“Whether or not the government decides to host or not to host the third largest sporting event in the world, it needs to be further detailed.
“It is not a decision that is made simply,” Yeoh told the Parliament during Minister’s Question Time today.
However, while the government has not decided yet, Yeoh said her ministry’s stand is that they will prioritise the public.
“What’s for sure is that we will put the people’s interest as the priority, we will not waste taxpayers’ money even if we are ready to host the sporting event. We will ensure to take a conservative approach when it comes to taxpayers’ money.
“If, this is if, the government decides to host the Commonwealth Games, the ministry suggests that it does not exceed the grant that is allocated by the Commonwealth Games Federation,” Yeoh said.
She said if there is a need to draw funds from taxpayers’ money, even if Malaysia is ready, the government may decide not to host the games.
“Taking into account of tax payers’ money, that is the people’s money, if there is a need to use that, maybe the best choice the government could.
“Let’s wait for the decision of the Cabinet,” she said.
She was responding to PAS’ Alor Setar MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden who asked the government’s stand on taking up the offer to host the Commonwealth Games 2026 considering the nation’s economic situation.
Yeoh added that if the government decides to host the games, the Youth and Sports Ministry is ready to appoint an audit firm to audit the organising account.
“We want to ensure that this is done with the right governance, transparent financial management whereby all expenditure is taken into account in order, so that the organism account could be closed as soon as possible and well managed,” she said.
