A triple somersault wearing a sarong in C'wealth Games 2026?...

A triple somersault wearing a sarong in C'wealth Games 2026?....

Dark truths on '98 C'wealth Games emerge...

From 2002, I penned more than a dozen commentaries requesting for the accounts of the 1998 Commonwealth Games to be made public. But those responsible, including the bigwigs at Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad (Sukom 98 Bhd) ignored the calls, pretended not to have read them, or felt it was too much “trouble” to engage with me. Throwback at C'wealth Games 1998 K.Lumpur.

But credit must go to Azalina Othman Said, who upon becoming the sports minister, spoke to me and instructed her officers to produce the documents. But they could only show me the annual filings to the then Registrar of Companies (now Companies Commission) because the organisers were Sukom 98 Bhd, incorporated under the Companies Act.

The gullible media reported that “the accounts have been closed” and a letter to Malaysiakini even praised Azalina for her efforts. The audited statement of accounts, which was closed at the end of 2002, saw the company posting a loss of RM11.6 million.

Azalina Othman Said

“We have finished with one chapter – that is the closing of the accounts. Sukom will now have to deal with how to settle it and where to raise the money. Of the RM11.6 million, a total of RM11.4 million is owed to the government,” The Star quoted Azalina as saying.

But how much did the government give in grants? How much was collected from other sources? They were never made public.I persevered with a continuous barrage of questions for Hashim Mohd Ali, the executive chairperson of Sukom 98 and CEO Manap Ibrahim. None were forthcoming.

Given the scandal that engulfed the bids made for the football World Cup at that time, I wrote: “It is pertinent to reiterate that every bid for any event – not necessarily football or sports – comes under heavy scrutiny.

“Even the slightest deviations from the norm is likely to be examined with a fine-tooth comb and every scribe worth his salt is likely to dig and dig every bid.”

Hashim Mohd Ali

Real cost of ‘98 Games...

Yesterday, Hashim broke his 26-year silence by giving us a hint on how much the games cost the government. In opposing plans to host the 2026 Games, he said: “We were given a RM1 million grant from the government to set up Sukom 98 Bhd, and we had four years to prepare for it. We looked for sponsorship and did not rely on government funds.

“Mastercard gave us a US$5 million sponsorship while Malaysian Airlines sponsored air tickets to be shared by athletes and officials of the 69 Commonwealth countries. It was a big deal back then.”

But what he did not tell us is that the government spent millions on the 88,000-seater national stadium, the aquatic centre, and the hockey stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. What about the upgrades of the velodrome, sports fields, and other amenities?

The then deputy sports minister Loke Yuen Yow told Parliament that preliminary estimates found the games would generate about RM38 million in ticket sales. Organisers forecast a profit of around RM5 million.

However, Hashim seems to have selective memory and omitted details of income and expenditure. How much did it cost to make the thousands of colourful blazers for officials and delegates? How much was spent on hotel suites for those classified as VIPs and VVIPs? What about other sources of income including minor sponsors, car number plates, sale of apparel, and souvenirs?

Carlsberg controversy...

The most glaring omission is that it had to pay a brewery after signing a sponsorship deal. In response to demands from religious quarters, the government banned Carlsberg’s sponsorship of the games - just two months before it began. The cabinet decreed that all traces of Carlsberg must be removed, but Carlsberg was faced with a sizeable logistical task.

Fleets of buses and taxis proclaiming the company’s sponsorship, banners in shops, and of course, it was advertised on thousands of litres of tinned and bottled beer (collector’s items of these paraphernalia are still available on Carousel).

BBC reported that the organisers were also facing trouble - they would have to repay £800,000 (RM5.6 million at the time) of sponsorship money and could be facing a £1 million bill from distributors for cleaning up the mess.

BBC said: “Malaysia is the first Asian nation to hold the games, and the organisers were already facing financial problems because of the region’s economic slowdown. Budgets for the opening and closing ceremonies have been slashed.” There was also a protracted dispute with the ticketing agent that went to court.

Gymnast attire...

Why bring up these episodes and dark history? There’s danger at every turn. If we decide to host the games, will the government ban leotards and swimsuits to appease the “Green Wave” and show its green is brighter than the other side?

How do you do a triple somersault wearing a sarong or would a female athlete dive into a pool wearing a house coat? Be warned. The drums of godly augmentation have already started beating.

As it is, PAS-led Terengganu has banned female gymnasts from participating in the Sukma Games since 2019, citing concerns about their attire not adhering to syariah standards. Gymnasts have pulled out, but does anyone care?

Such misogynistic edicts will certainly resurface and once again, Malaysia will be making the headlines the world over for the wrong reasons. Additionally, will athletes from countries that did not condemn the atrocities of Israel be harassed? Do we still want to consider being the host? - R.Nadeswaran

Hashim Mohd Ali is a brother-in-law of Mahathir. Being the executive chairperson of SUKOM 98, he was responsible for overseeing the preparation of the Commonwealth Games.However, the snail pace of the preparations upset the then Minster of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Sabbaruddin Chik. The frustrated minister lambasted at Hashim who shed tears when he (Hashim) later tried to explain the situation.The minister left office soon after the games, in early 1999 for reason best known to him and Mahathir. - SRMan

Should we still entertain the idea of hosting, especially in the wake of the scandalous 1998 Commonwealth Games? Nades has succinctly outlined persistent concerns surrounding Sukom. Despite its prestige, it remains a costly endeavor, with financial transparency akin to the MH370 mystery.The aftermath resembles messy clean-ups post-ceremonies, as initial excitement wanes, leaving neglect for handling the aftermath. The image of officials opening stadium doors for free entry to bolster televised event crowds is undeniably embarrassing.Now, with a cadre of inexperienced leaders, including the OCM and its non-sportsman President, pushing for Malaysia to host the 2026 Games, it appears history may repeat itself with costly missteps. One can only hope they learn from past errors. - drkam

Citizen Nades, thank you for keeping this issue open, which the government is adamant at hiding it under a concrete block, not a carpet, for reasons we are all aware. Any honest administration would have submitted the full accounts to Parliament, and learnt some lessons from it. - Verum Deco

In 1998, when Malaysia held it's first Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, DSAI was removed from all positions in government and imprisoned. Great Britain was entirely silent over the treatment of DSAI. Then, Labour Party PM, Tony Blair, refused to interfere with the Mahathir Administration, and forged on to allow the Games to be held. If anyone could even remember as that far behind, the Mahathir Administration and UMNO cohorts instituted media blackout (those days only print and cable TV and radio operators, social media was basically non-existent) and those persons or individuals giving out or selling any media in relations to the arrest of DSAI, were apprehended and prosecuted.Basically, what Nades wrote back then (even) had any effect or sustenance about the misappropriation of the Commonwealth Games. - Kamsiah Haidar

For goodness sake. Malaysia is already in trillion ringgit of debts. Please do not add more debts for our future generations to bear. Honestly, whenever Malaysia holds international events of such magnitude, there is lack of accountability. It breeds corruption. - Hope

The debt trap of 2026 C'wealth Games – Malaysia

a sucker if bails out Australia as new host...

Malaysia is being offered £100 million pounds to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. That looks like a jackpot given on a silver platter. Even the Taylor Swift’s just concluded exclusive concert in Singapore in the Southeast Asian leg of her Eras Tour looked lame compared to this international sports event involving 74 Commonwealth nations and territories.

If the Taylormania’s six-day performance, which saw more than 300,000 fans from across the Southeast Asia made their way to Singapore, could contribute S$500 million economic benefits to the tiny island, what more the Commonwealth Games? And Malaysia is already looking at the mouth-watering incentive of almost RM600 million before anything needs to be done.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Before the government of Anwar Ibrahim hastily accepts the offer, it should understand why the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) generously offer the money. The £100 million of “financial and strategic support” was an offer to any potential host as part of the Australia withdrawal settlement. That means the Aussie was no longer interested.

The Australian state of Victoria decided last July to withdraw as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to rising costs. The event, scheduled for March 17-29, 2026, saw the hosting costs skyrocketing from the initial projection of A$2.6 billion (about RM8 billion) to A$7 billion (RM21.8 billion). In fact, Victoria’s government agreed to pay A$380 million for breach of contract.

If indeed the international multi-sport event is so profitable in the first place, or at least could generate a bigger economic impact than Taylor Swift’s concert, it doesn’t make sense for Victoria to cancel it. Within hours of Victoria’s announcement, the neighbouring state of New South Wales – whose state capital Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games – said it would not take over.

The best part was when other Australian states, with the exception of Queensland, poured cold water on hosting the event too. At a very conservative estimate, an Australian independent financial analysis determined the event would cost US$3.5 billion (£2.75 billion; RM16.5 billion), with the economic benefit only amounting to US$1.2 billion (£1 billion; RM5.6 billion).

In short, all analysis agreed that the Commonwealth Games would cost a significant amount of money and provide very little return on that investment. Agreed with Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews to pull out of the event, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said – “The Commonwealth Games aren’t what they used to be and as a result of that they don’t provide the return on investment”.

The fact that Victoria was more than happy to cut loss and pay compensation to the tune of A$380 (RM1.2 billion) should provide enough reasons for Malaysia to also avoid the games like a plague. However, don’t underestimate this Southeast Asia country’s stupidity. After all, this is the same nation dumb enough to import radioactive waste from Australia when the Aussie did not want the toxic materials in its backyard.

Already, clueless Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia, was incredibly excited about the prospect of hosting the game that Australia rejects. He said – “With the existing world-class facilities, Malaysia is well-equipped to host an international event of Commonwealth magnitude”.

The incompetent Mohamad Norza brags- “The hosting will involve minimal Government spending and bring significant socio-economic benefits to the country. It will also elevate the standard of Malaysia sports much like the way it did in the aftermath of the 1998 Games. To this end, the CGF and CGA Malaysia have offered an attractive proposal to the Government of Malaysia.”

Exactly what type of world-class facilities that he was referring to after more than 25 years since Malaysia last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998? It’s just 18 years since Melbourne, Victoria last hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games, where Queen Elizabeth opened the event for the first time on Australian soil. Yet, Victoria still needed to spend up to A$7 billion (RM21.8 billion) for the 2026 games.

Malaysia is well known for its “first class infrastructure, third world mentality”, contributing to poor maintenance of new facilities. If even Australia had to face an escalation of costs, what more Malaysia, a country infamous for not only cost overrun in every single project, but also has the tendency of at least tripling the initial costs due to massive corruption?

At best, Malaysia may need to spend between US$3.5 billion (RM16.5 billion) and A$7 billion (RM21.8 billion). At worst, Anwar administration could see the cost of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games balloon to A$21 billion (RM64.8 billion) as a result of corruption. It’s not like you just need to spend some money on minor renovation or repair works or printing marketing banners.

Ask yourself this question – why did not other Commonwealth countries such as Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales or India quickly grab the opportunity abandoned by Australia? The primary reason Malaysia is being approached is because the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) could smell a sucker from miles away. The biggest problem is not merely the ROI (return on investment) alone.

With two years left before the games, Malaysia will certainly look like a bunch of clowns if it fails to upgrade the venue, getting sponsorship, providing infrastructure and whatnot. All eyes will be on this magnificent nation that foolishly and arrogantly thought it could do the job, only to be stripped of the rights to host after failing to meet promises, just like what happened to South Africa in 2015.

In 2015, the South African city of Durban was awarded the 2022 Games after the Canadian city of Edmonton withdrew, also citing cost concerns. But 2 years later, like Australia, South Africa’s sports minister threw in the towel and revealed the financial burden – “We gave it our best shot but we can’t go beyond. If the country says we don’t have this money, we can’t.”

To save the 2022 Games, Birmingham and the British government stepped in, pumping more than £560 million, in addition to another £190 million from the local council of the West Midlands city. Originally, Birmingham had been scheduled to host the 2026 Games, but the decision to bail out South Africa’s failure saw Victoria getting the job instead, which is now vacant again after Australia withdrew. Subsequently, the Birmingham city council went bankrupt.

Actually, Victoria was named the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in 2022 after Kuala Lumpur, Cardiff, Calgary, Edmonton and Adelaide all pulled out from proposed bids because they were concerned about costs. Hence, should Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim decide to step in to bail out Victoria, he has to explain and justify the financial feasibility of such project.

Essentially, the debts of the British Empire Games will become a political baggage – even a scandal – that would engulf Anwar’s political career at a time when the country is struggling with the high cost of living and global economic uncertainties, not to mention the RM1.5 trillion national debts. Worse, unlike Olympic Games, the colonial origins of the Commonwealth Games have seen it losing its relevance and audiences.

Crucially, if Kuala Lumpur fails to deliver the 2026 Games as promised, which it will certainly do, the opposition parties will capitalize on the issue to hammer Anwar’s leadership and question his competency. With the next 16th General Election must be held by 2027, the risk is too high for Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan coalition to toy with the games. Even India had no interest to host it.

Alternatively, to reduce the costs and risks, Malaysia and Singapore could consider jointly host the games. However, Singapore appears not interested as it will only continue to pursue sporting events that are aligned to its “strategic interests”, and Commonwealth Games isn’t one of them. Unlike Malaysia, financial considerations were crucial to any decision-making process in Singapore, even though it has the money to splash. - FT