Be serious, give more funds for Le Tour de Langkawi, Hannah tells states

 

Participants of the Le Tour de Langkawi 2024 race in Bintulu, Sarawak. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh has lamented the lack of serious efforts by state governments to collect and allocate funds when sponsoring events like the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycling race.

She said these states were well aware of the returns from organising such events as they serve to attract more tourists and boost the local economy, Bernama reported.

She regretted that these states were not willing to bear the cost of organising such events as a sponsor.

Most states are keen for the race to come to their states but they are not keen to give money. That is the challenge we face,

 she said at a press conference held in conjunction with the final stage of LTdL in Bintulu, Sarawak, today.

Hannah Yeoh.

“It is all about costing. Even last year, I had to explain in Parliament why the race was not going to Langkawi (for the 2023 edition).

We always try our best to cover places that we feel are interesting for both tourism as well as from the cycling (racing) aspect,

 Yeoh said.

She said the total sponsorship funds collected for LTdL amounted to RM8.1 million, including from private companies such as Petronas and Tourism Malaysia.

The ministry and the National Sports Council spent almost RM12 million to ensure the eight-day race proceeded smoothly.

“We hope all states pay more attention to providing funds for sports development.

“There are so many platforms for states to promote themselves but if they do not set aside funds for this it will not happen.

By now all states should know that LTdL is an annual event,

 she said.

Earlier, Yeoh witnessed the flag-off of cyclists for the final stage of the 2024 LTdL involving a distance of 147.5km around Bintulu. - FMT