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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Where’s the RM1mil? Honour pledge, Tourism Ministry told

(STAR) PENANG: The Tourism Ministry has yet to release the RM1mil promised to fund an international dragon boat competition which Penang will host from July 31 to Aug 4.

State executive councillor in charge of tourism Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference yesterday that the ministry promised to allocate the sum three years ago when the state placed its bid to host the sixth International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championship.

Law urged the ministry to honour its pledge, saying that the state was short on time to make the necessary arrangements and it would affect the image of Penang and Malaysia if the event were cancelled.

He said 159 teams with more than 4,400 participants from 22 foreign countries had registered for the event and the eighth Asian Dragon Boat Championship, to be held concurrently at the Teluk Bahang Dam, adding that this was the first time an Asian country would be hosting the event.

Law said by the end of last year, the ministry forwarded only RM500,000 to the Penang Tourism Action Council for the world event but the funds were yet to be transferred as the PTAC was awaiting the ministry’s approval.

He also said the state government had approved RM200,000 for the two championships which would cost the organisers an estimated RM2mil. The Penang Water Supply Corporation, as the main sponsor, will bear the infrastructure costs at the site.

Those interested to sponsor the event can call him at 012-498 8630.

Law is chairing the organising committee for both events in his capacity as the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival committee chairman.

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