Malaysia hopes to do well from SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia hopes to earn more than 4 million ringgit (US$1.06 million) as host of the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September.

Berita Harian daily reported multinational film producer Konica has signed an endorsement deal for $1 million.

And state-owned companies Telekom Malaysia, car manufacturer Proton, oil company Petronas and Tenaga Nasional Berhad have hinted at a joint sponsorship of the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 Games.

The head of the Games Secretariat, Zaki Abdul Rahman, said the organizers were still negotiating with the four companies.

"Following a previous discussion between representatives of the four companies and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein on Tuesday evening, the minister really hopes the companies can jointly sponsor the event," he said as quoted by the newspaper.

"They all have given a positive reaction and we at the secretariat really hope they can boost the image of the event, not only locally but for foreign countries."

"Should they all give their approval in the next discussion, they will become the official partners of the 21st SEA Games along with Konica."

"The cooperation will not only help us stage the event, but we may show a profit higher than the 4 million ringgit we earned from the last Games here in 1989."

This year's Games, Malaysia's fifth as the host, will feature 32 sports offering 390 gold medals. These numbers are the second most after the 1997 Games in Jakarta, which featured 34 sports and 448 golds.

Events at the Games will be held in cities outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur, including Johor Bahru, Pulau Pinang, Seremban and Shah Alam.

The Malaysian government has provided 50 million ringgit to hold the Games. Zaki said he would announce the agreement with the four state-owned companies on Feb. 3, at the same time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad kicks off the SEA Games campaign.

"We will still hold discussions with other companies that have showed interest in sponsoring the event," he said.

"Perhaps they are interested because they believe the organizers will be able to stage the best Games ever, which will serve as a promotion for their products." (yan)