Mahathir renews attack on speculators, Games reports
Mahathir renews attack on speculators, Games reports
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad renewed his attack on currency speculators on Tuesday, accusing them of costing the country billions of dollars as it prepared for the Commonwealth Games.
In a speech opening the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) general assembly, meeting ahead of the Games which begin on Friday, Mahathir also accused sectors of the foreign press of false and negative reports, continuing criticism by his information minister and the minister for youth and sport.
"We are sorry that negative reports about Malaysia and the Games we have organized still persist," Mahathir told delegates who included the CGF president Prince Edward.
"We hope that the presence of so many people who would otherwise not visit Malaysia will help to correct the image of Malaysia that has been painted by the less friendly of the international media."
With Malaysia firmly gripped by the Asian economic turmoil, and the ringgit currency depreciating 40 percent in the past year before being pegged to the U.S. dollar, Mahathir singled out speculators in his speech.
"Despite losing several hundred billions of U.S. dollars due to the speculations by currency traders and stock market players we have completed all the facilities and preparations for the Games.
"It is a measure of our commitment to the Games and our seriousness about keeping our promises," he said.
Competition gets under way on Wednesday, with Steve Waugh leading Australia into action in the Games first cricket tournament.
England's notable absence in the cricket is a sign of the changing of the guard in the Commonwealth sporting establishment.
England has ruled the medal table for decades but Australia dominated the Victoria Games in 1994 and Auckland in 1990, and is set to take over the overall medals table in Kuala Lumpur.
Australian team general manager Perry Crosswhite said overtaking the traditional sporting rival was a great motivator for Australian athletes.
"Yes it would be very satisfying, for any Australian beating England in sport is always an ambition," Crosswhite said. "However, its going to be a close thing as England have a very strong team."
The competition starts two days ahead of Friday's opening ceremony because of the inclusion for the first time of the team sports of cricket, rugby, hockey and netball.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the Commonwealth Games athletes village, Datuk Ibrahim Saad, called for tighter security following the arrest of eight cleaners accused of stealing from athletes rooms.
In the latest incident several Kenyan athletes complained that $600 in cash and equipment stolen from their rooms in the village.
"I am very upset. It is unforgivable, a disgrace to the nation. This is not how Malaysians behave," fumed Ibrahim.
"There should not be any forgiveness for those arrested. I want the police to charge them and put them behind bars."