1Malaysia F1 - Malaysian Very Own Formula One car. Erm... Any suggestion about the design?
A lot of positive and negative comment recieved after reading the newspaper today.Our prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announce that our beloved country Malaysia will have our own F1 Team and will start to race next year. Well, whats so controversional are the current politic and economy issue.
Well, I don’t want to talk much about the politic and the corruptions in the country which obviously can be seen everyday. But when hearing about the news, I can’t help of recalling the history of Malaysia former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir announce the project of Kuala Lumpur Twin Tower (KLCC) and another big project was the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). A lot of negative comments arise saying that the project is irrational because the project will need a lot money and where else to get them other than collecting tax, cutting subsidies or in easier word “civilians money“. Further more with the unstable world economy, do you think the project is a bad decision or will become like the last 2 big project from the former prime minister which is now I am very sure all malaysians are so proud of it.
To know more about the news, read the article from Bernama below :-
MALAYSIA F1 TEAM TO COMPETE IN RACE NEXT YEAR, SAYS PM.
The 1Malaysia F1 Team, a joint venture between the government and private sectors in the country, will participate in the F1 race beginning next year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Tuesday.The Prime Minister said the project involved the combined expertise of Proton and Lotus with the support of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), Naza Motor and Air Asia.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister I, told reporters when making the announcement at the Finance Ministry that leading corporate figures such as Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and S.M Nasarudin S.M Nasimuddin were also involved in the initiative.
“This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit stop team consists of Malaysians,” he said.
He said the 1Malaysia Team would identify a suitable Malaysian driver, adding that the project could lift the country’s image in the international arena. Najib said the FIA had received Malaysia’s application to participate in the World F1 Championship next year.
Asked on the budget and the total investment by the government, Najib said: “The Malaysian government’s investment is through Proton”.
Najib said the project was not a waste because it would provide a strong marketing element to the country when it competed in the F1 championship.
“If we want to export the Proton, we must ensure that the brand is strong. There is a strong element of marketing.
It is not merely a sporting activity because there is an element of marketing for Proton and Malaysia while at the same time, the Air Asia and Naza brand names can be popularised,” he said.
According to a press release issued by a local public relations company for the 1Malaysia F1 Team, the national team will be based at SIC. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Petronas as well as Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), a leading local composite manufacturing expert, have already been engaged to participate in the project.
The statement said the national F1 team would integrate the Malaysian technical and pit crew totaling 200 people to be managed by one of Formula One’s most respected technical director, Mike Gascoyne.
He had already recruited a core team of international experts with proven record in the various engineering, design and manufacturing disciplines needed to ensure that the 1Malaysia F1 team was of international standard, readiness and capable of competing with the world’s greatest drivers.
Currently, six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation and the team is expected to announce its two drivers by end of next month.
The statement quoted Najib as saying that the country’s participation in Formula One with the national team had far reaching objectives, mainly the advancement of the country’s automotive industry development from the technological aspect including initiatives in green technology.
“By establishing our racing centre within the country, we hope to also attract more foreign investments and the best technical minds which, in turn, will spur the growth of our automotive industry where we hope to see more R&D into lighter, safer and more cost-effective cars,” he said.
“We further anticipate higher commitment by organisations and attendance by individuals during the F1 Petronas Malaysian GP which will be coupled with increased tourism related returns,” Najib said.
He said by creating a national F1 team, the country was taking its motor sports to its pinnacle, thus ensuring its place in this internationally embraced sports that had scaled the heights of entertainment.
The 1Malaysia F1 Team takes its name from the “1Malaysia – People First, Performance Now” policy mooted by Najib in June this year as the unifying foundation for all Malaysians to come together in celebrating its cooperation among it multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society for the betterment of the nation.
Petronas, the national oil giant, has also made advancement in this arena via its sponsorship of the BMW-Sauber Team for the last four years.
The setting up of the national team is a natural progression to increase the country’s returns from investment in Formula One.
Obviously, the project sure can take the name of our country Malaysia, out National car maker Proton, Petronas, Lotus, Air Asia and a lot of other local brand to the world. Thus will boost the R&D, Products sales and finally the economy our country economy in long term.
One thing I am sure is if the project was successful, it sure will become another reason for malaysians to be proud of their country. Malaysia Boleh!
p/s: Well.. One thing so obvious is, the policy mooted by the prime minister “1Malaysia” is there included in the F1 Team name. Politic manifesto included? ;p
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Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf Zahir & Batin.