KUALA LUMPUR — The government wants the upcoming Formula 1 (F1) Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) to generate economic opportunities not only for major companies but also for petty traders and local communities, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar said the MADANI Government was committed to ensuring that the benefits from hosting the international motorsport event would be shared more widely, including by hawkers and small traders in the Sepang area, Bernama reported.
“I do not want only big companies, big hotels and big restaurants to benefit (economically). I also want the hawker stalls around Sepang, in addition to the larger restaurants. In the outer areas, we must ensure that all these petty traders’ stalls are ready so they can open for business and earn an income,” he said.
He was speaking at the Temu Anwar programme with around 2,000 Form Six and polytechnic students from across Negeri Sembilan here today.
Anwar said hotel bookings in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur had also recorded strong demand following the announcement of the race, which is expected to provide a boost to the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
He added that the government was coordinating preparations with several agencies, including the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Royal Malaysia Police, to ensure the event runs smoothly.
The prime minister also said discussions were underway with Bahrain Prime Minister Prince Salman Hamad Al Khalifa to secure special ticket rates for college and university students through the MADANI F1 Ticket initiative.
“People have been asking whether there will be MADANI F1 tickets. I told them Bahrain is the organiser, while we are the co-host. Some of the tickets have already been sold, with the lowest-priced ticket costing USD100. USD100 is about RM400 per ticket.
“So now I am negotiating with the Prime Minister of Bahrain to see whether they can offer special ticket prices for university and college students,” he said.
Anwar said the government also plans to showcase Malaysian cultural performances to F1 spectators while training hundreds of volunteers, including Lower Form Six students, to support the smooth operation of the event.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Anwar urged students not to be swayed by political narratives that attempt to create divisions between races, stressing that Malaysia’s diversity is a key strength.
He said the position of the Malays remains protected under the Federal Constitution, and that acknowledging and safeguarding the rights of all communities should not be interpreted as diminishing the rights of Malays.
“This is Malaysia. That is why I do not agree with politics that seeks to set one race against another. No one has ever disputed that this country has a Malay majority, the King, the Prime Minister, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Bank Negara are all Malays,” he said.
He added that after almost seven decades of independence, Malaysians must remain vigilant against attempts to exploit racial issues as political tools to provoke anger and division.
“The Constitution also guarantees that Malaysians of all races should be embraced as one family. We must recognise and respect everyone. Recognising the rights of all does not mean rejecting anyone; the position of the Malays remains safeguarded,” he said. – July 29, 2026